Sudiksha Konanki and her five college friends traveled to the Dominican Republic on March 3, where they checked into the all-inclusive Riu Republica resort in Punta Cana. While at the resort, a power outage lasting 25 hours hit some areas, prompting the group to decide to take a moonlit stroll on the beach after a night of dancing at a disco.
Surveillance footage captured Sudiksha and her friends heading towards the beach, with five women and two men initially seen in the group. However, an hour later, the footage revealed that only five women and one man returned from the beach, indicating that Konanki stayed behind with Joshua Riibe, a 24-year-old fellow traveler from the U.S.
The following day, Konanki’s friends embarked on an excursion without her, unaware that she was not with them. It was not until their return in the afternoon that they realized Sudiksha had been missing since the previous night, raising concerns about her whereabouts and well-being.
When they tracked down Riibe, he said he had passed out on the beach and, when he woke up, he was alone. Assuming Konanki had already left, he returned to his hotel room. By then, she had been missing for 12 hours.
Dominican Republic authorities questioned Riibe for hours over the weekend, including intense questioning by Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso and Navy Vice Admiral Agustin Morillo Rodriguez. Authorities have confiscated Riibe’s passport, and he is not free to leave. Reports say police escort him wherever he goes.
Joining Nancy Grace today:
Additional Guests
Sheriff Mike Chapman – Loudoun County, Virginia, Hometown Sheriff
Ben Dobrin – Emergency Response Diving Instructor and Instructor Trainer, Police Diver, and Emergency Services Diver
Emily Leayman – Northern Virginia Local Editor for Patch.com; X: @EmilyLeayman
Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.
[Feature Photo Sudiksha Konanki/Loudon County Sherifff’s Office ]
