Authorities have identified Joshua Riibe, a 24-year-old former high school wrestler, as a person of interest in the disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old U.S. student who went missing on March 6 during a break in Punta Cana.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia is investigating Riibe, though officials have stated, “This is not at this time a criminal case, which would be different.” Dominican authorities do not consider Riibe a suspect and believe Konanki may have drowned.
A source close to the investigation told DailyMail.com that Riibe remains in Punta Cana and is cooperating with authorities. While his passport is currently in the possession of Dominican officials, he is legally able to retrieve it and return to the United States. Investigators are also in possession of his phone but require legal authorization to examine its contents.
Surveillance footage reportedly captured Riibe and Konanki walking toward the beach at approximately 4 a.m. on March 6. They were with a larger group of friends, who later returned to their rooms at 5:55 a.m., leaving the pair alone. Riibe told investigators they entered the water and were caught by a wave. He claimed he later fell asleep on the beach and eventually walked back to his room.
Security cameras recorded Riibe returning to his room barefoot and shirtless at 8:54 a.m., nearly five hours after he and Konanki went to the beach. Konanki’s friends, who left the hotel for an excursion that morning, noticed her disappearance upon returning at 4 p.m. and reported her missing.
Riibe, a senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, resides in Rock Rapids, Iowa. His relatives described him as a “good kid” who prioritizes his studies.
The U.S. State Department is working with the Indian embassy in the Dominican Republic, which is leading the investigation, as Konanki was an Indian citizen and a U.S. permanent resident.
Authorities suspect drowning due to rough ocean conditions, but Konanki’s family is urging investigators to explore all possibilities. Her father, Subbarayudu Konanki, filed a complaint, stating, “It’s been four days, and if she was in the water, she would likely have washed ashore. She hasn’t been found, so we are asking them to investigate all possible scenarios, including kidnapping or abduction.”
