It’s a tragic update.
The parents of missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki have expressed their belief that their daughter likely drowned while on a spring break trip in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Konanki, 20, was last seen on the beach in the early hours of March 6, and despite an ongoing international investigation, no definitive answers have been found. Her parents, speaking from their home in Virginia, said they are coming to terms with the possibility that she drowned.
Both U.S. and Dominican authorities have suggested that the rough ocean conditions at the time of Konanki’s disappearance point to drowning as the most likely cause. Konanki’s father, Subbarayudu Konanki, explained that authorities showed the family evidence of high waves in the area when she went missing, further supporting this theory.
Joshua Riibe, a 22-year-old student from St. Cloud State University, was the last person seen with Konanki on the beach. Riibe told investigators that he and Konanki were in waist-deep water before a wave pulled them out to sea. While he has not been charged with any crime, Riibe’s passport was confiscated, and he has remained under supervision at the hotel since March 6.
A Dominican judge recently ruled that Riibe no longer needs to remain under police supervision, though the issue of his passport has not yet been resolved. As the investigation continues, Konanki’s parents have thanked the international media for their support but remain heartbroken as they grapple with the loss of their daughter.
