Wed Mar 19 03:00:00 UTC 2025: ## American Student Missing in Dominican Republic for 12 Days: Family Believes She Drowned

**PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic** – The search continues for Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student missing for 12 days after vanishing during a spring break trip to Punta Cana. Authorities from the U.S. and the Dominican Republic have conducted extensive land, air, and sea searches, but Konanki remains missing.

Konanki’s family believes she drowned, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, where the family resides. While Dominican authorities have yet to officially declare her deceased, the family has reportedly sent letters to both Dominican and U.S. authorities requesting such a declaration.

Konanki was last seen on March 6th on video surveillance entering a beach near the Hotel Riu Republica with friends and two men. One of the men, 22-year-old Joshua Riibe, is identified as a person of interest, though authorities emphasize this is not currently a criminal investigation. Riibe’s passport has been confiscated, and he remains confined to the hotel under police escort. A habeas corpus petition for his release was heard on Tuesday.

Newly released surveillance footage shows Konanki and Riibe separately appearing ill near each other at a bar hours before her disappearance. Riibe has been questioned extensively by authorities.

Konanki’s friends reported her missing after she failed to return from a party on March 5th. The hotel confirmed that a red flag warning of dangerous currents and high waves was posted on the beach that morning. The search has expanded beyond the immediate resort area to include Macao Beach.

The investigation involves collaboration between U.S. agencies including the State Department, FBI, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and the University of Pittsburgh police, along with the Dominican National Police, Interpol, and the Indian Embassy. Authorities are examining security footage, cell phone data, and interviewing witnesses. Despite the extensive search, no body has been recovered. Konanki is described as 5’3″ with black hair and brown eyes, last seen wearing a brown bikini and various jewelry.

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