Search efforts are entering their second week for Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old college student from Chantilly, Virginia, who went missing on March 6 while vacationing with friends in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. As the investigation unfolds, more details about her disappearance are being revealed.

Last Known Movements

Konanki, a student at the University of Pittsburgh, arrived in the Dominican Republic on March 3 for spring break with five other women. Surveillance footage captured her, along with three friends and two American men, heading towards the beach around 4:15 a.m. after a night at the hotel bar. The hotel later indicated that power outages might have prompted guests to move outdoors.

One of the men identified in the video is Joshua Riibe, a 22-year-old college student. The two are seen walking closely together, and according to reports, they both went into the water by the beach after the group returned to the hotel. Their last known sighting was around 4:50 a.m., just prior to the reported incident where a large wave is said to have swept them away.

Investigation Developments

Authorities are treating Konanki’s case primarily as a missing persons investigation, although they have not ruled out foul play. The attorney general of the Dominican Republic indicated that they are exploring multiple possibilities, including the potential for drowning.

According to Loudon County Sheriff Mike Chapman, it remains uncertain what occurred after the last sighting. He emphasized the current lack of evidence suggesting anything beyond an accident. “It’s hard to say whether there are indications of foul play,” Chapman commented in a recent interview.

Family’s Plea for Closure

Konanki’s family is seeking closure regarding her disappearance. They have formally requested that she be declared deceased due to a lack of evidence pointing to her whereabouts. This request has been made both to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and Dominican authorities.

In their statement, the family expressed their gratitude towards the ongoing investigative efforts but communicated their belief that Sudiksha may have drowned. Sheriff Chapman stated that final decisions regarding declarations of death are ultimately up to the Dominican authorities.

The Role of Joshua Riibe

Joshua Riibe, who was present during the incident, has been cooperating with authorities since the investigation began. Initially confined to a hotel under police surveillance, Riibe was released from this restriction after a judicial ruling on March 18. He expressed his desire to return home but remains committed to assisting in the search for Konanki.

Riibe’s family has expressed their condolences to the Konanki family and highlighted that he has cooperated fully with investigatory efforts. They described him as a compassionate individual deeply troubled by the events surrounding Sudiksha’s disappearance.

Search Efforts Intensified

In response to her disappearance, Dominican President Luis Abinader confirmed that more than 300 officials, supported by the FBI, are actively involved in search efforts across land, air, and sea. A newly formed “high-level commission” has been established to oversee the ongoing investigation, while Interpol has released a global alert regarding Konanki’s case.

As part of these search efforts, authorities are re-interviewing individuals who were present in close proximity to Konanki at the time of her disappearance, including hotel staff, to gather more information.