In Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, the parents of a missing University of Pittsburgh spring breaker have requested Dominican police to declare her dead almost two weeks after she disappeared from a luxurious resort in Punta Cana. They informed authorities that they believe the account provided by the sole publicly known eyewitness.
Subbarayudu and SreeDevi Konanki have not contested Joshua Riibe’s version of events. Riibe, a 22-year-old man from Iowa and another spring breaker, is thought to have been the last person to see their daughter before she went missing. This information was relayed to Dominican police in a letter sent by Sudiksha Konanki’s parents on Monday. Initially, the father had urged authorities to explore all possible scenarios.
Sudiksha Konanki, aged 20, disappeared on March 6 after going to the beach with a group of seven individuals at approximately 4:15 a.m., as shown in surveillance footage. Around 6 a.m., most of the group returned, leaving her alone with Riibe. However, Riibe returned without her after several hours.
Konanki’s family did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter, which has been obtained by Fox News.
The beach area at the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. (Courtesy: D’Lani Sweeney)
In a leaked transcript of an interview with police, he allegedly told detectives he last saw her on the beach after they were both pulled offshore in a strong current.
Riibe said after struggling back to land, he last saw her walking away in knee-deep water, and then he vomited and fell asleep on a chair, according to a transcript obtained by Fox News.
On Monday, his attorneys filed a writ of habeas corpus, challenging his de facto detention in the country. He has been holed up in the Riu Republica resort since Konanki vanished. They were both staying there for spring break vacations when they met.
Riibe is not accused of a crime, but authorities confiscated his passport while investigating his version of events.
A hearing on the habeas petition is expected to be held Tuesday afternoon, sources said, but the timing could change.
