Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student, went missing during a beach visit in the Dominican Republic. The last person to see her, Joshua Steven Ribe, has provided conflicting accounts of the events leading to her disappearance. With search efforts ongoing, her family fears she may have been kidnapped, prompting calls for an expansive investigation and the involvement of international agencies.
Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student, was last seen by Joshua Steven Ribe, a 24-year-old tourist from Iowa, after a beach outing in the Dominican Republic. Ribe, who reportedly passed out drunk on the shore, claimed that Konanki had disappeared when he regained consciousness, according to Dominican news source El Nacional. As the search spans into its fourth day, concerns heighten regarding the possibility of her kidnapping.
Ms. Konanki, a pre-med student from South Riding, Virginia, vacationed with friends at the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana. Surveillance footage revealed the group enjoying the resort disco until 3 a.m., followed by a visit to the beach at around 4 a.m. Her friends left her with Ribe by 5:50 a.m., establishing him as the last known person to have seen her alive.
Ribe has provided three differing accounts of the events following her disappearance: one, he vomited from the waves, checked on Konanki, and then blacked out; two, he exited the water, last saw her in knee-deep water, and lost consciousness; and three, he claimed to have seen her walking along the shore before falling asleep. Although his narratives vary, police have not declared him a suspect but stated he is cooperating with the investigation.
Friends of Ms. Konanki took nearly twelve hours to report her missing, alerting authorities at 4 p.m. on Thursday. A search and rescue operation has mobilized drones, helicopters, boats, and ATVs to locate the missing student, with the Civil Defence director suggesting minimal chances of finding her alive. Authorities theorize she may have drowned after leaving her clothing on a beach chaise lounge.
In light of the circumstances, her father, Subbarayudu Konanki, has called for an expanded inquiry due to fears of kidnapping. He expressed concern about the time elapsed without finding his daughter, noting, “It’s four days, and if she was in the water, she would likely have been strewn to shore.”
The family has also noted that it is out of character for Ms. Konanki to have left her phone and wallet with her friends, leading them to question her whereabouts. Family friend Ramprakash Krishnamanaidu raised the question of her fate if she is not in the ocean or at nearby resorts or hospitals.
The Dominican National Police are conducting interrogations of multiple individuals, including Ms. Konanki’s friends. They are also reviewing surveillance footage from nearby establishments. International agencies, including the FBI, DEA, and others, are aiding in the investigation, while the Indian Embassy has taken diplomatic responsibility for the case.
The case of Sudiksha Konanki remains under intense scrutiny as authorities and her family search for answers regarding her disappearance. Despite varying accounts from Joshua Steven Ribe, the last person to see her, and the extensive search efforts, the situation grows more concerning with each passing day. The family’s request for a thorough investigation into potential kidnapping underscores their fears and the uncertainty surrounding Konanki’s fate. The involvement of international agencies reflects the gravity of the case, as both the Dominican Republic and the Indian authorities work together to find the missing student.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
