Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old Indian student, has been missing in the Dominican Republic since March 6. U.S. authorities identified Joshua Riibe as a person of interest, though he is not a suspect. Konanki’s family urges a broader investigation beyond the assumption of drowning, and authorities are coordinating efforts with Dominican law enforcement.
Authorities in the United States have identified a 24-year-old man as a person of interest in the case of Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old Indian student who went missing in the Dominican Republic. Konanki, a permanent U.S. resident, was last spotted on March 6 at the Riu Republic Resort in Punta Cana while on spring break with her college friends. Federal law enforcement is collaborating with Dominican authorities to investigate her disappearance.
Joshua Riibe, the individual of interest, was reportedly seen with Konanki at the resort before she went missing. However, Chad Quinn, a spokesperson for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, clarified that this incident is not classified as a criminal investigation, and Riibe is not considered a suspect. “This particular individual may have been the last one to have seen her, so is of particular interest,” he commented.
Konanki, who is a student at the University of Pittsburgh, was vacationing with five female friends when she disappeared. Surveillance footage captured the group leaving the beach around 6 a.m. on March 6, but indicated that Konanki stayed behind with Riibe, who was last seen leaving the area hours later without her. Riibe, a student from Iowa currently studying at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, is not part of Konanki’s travel group.
The investigation involves a coordinated effort between the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and local law enforcement in the Dominican Republic. Family members have requested that authorities consider various possibilities for Konanki’s disappearance, including kidnapping or abduction, rather than assuming she drowned. Sudiksha’s father highlighted that her belongings remained with her friends, which he deemed unusual.
The Dominican Republic National Police stated that they are working with U.S. agencies to form a high-level commission to oversee the investigation. They plan to conduct further interviews with individuals who were reportedly near Konanki at the time of her disappearance.
In summary, Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old Indian student, has been reported missing in the Dominican Republic, prompting collaboration between U.S. authorities and local law enforcement. Joshua Riibe has been identified as a person of interest, though he is not considered a suspect. The investigation continues with calls from the missing student’s family for a broader inquiry into her disappearance, emphasizing the need to explore all possibilities beyond accidental drowning.
Original Source: www.business-standard.com
