Missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki is seen in recently released security camera footage obtained by local news from the hotel where she was staying in the Dominican Republic before she vanished.
Konanki, 20, was last seen on the beach with a witness identified as 22-year-old Joshua Riibe of Iowa around 4:50 a.m. on March 6. The pair had been out drinking with friends at the RIU Republica in Punta Cana before Riibe said they went for a swim during a red-flag warning.
The footage obtained by Noticias SIN from a hotel bar shows Konanki and Riibe drinking before the Pitt student vanished. No suspects have been named in connection with her disappearance, and Riibe has only been identified as a witness and has not been accused of any crime.
Konanki can be seen wearing the white, sorong-style dress that authorities found on a beach chair after she vanished.
Local authorities search for missing US student Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Thursday, March 13, 2025. Konanki, 20, was last seen on a beach outside the five-star RIU Republica Resort in the Dominican Republic on March 6. 2025. (Santiago Baez for Fox News Digital)
Riibe’s lawyer, Beatriz Santana, declined to comment on the case or her client’s interviews with police. Riibe’s parents issued a statement through their attorney on Friday taking issue with Dominican authorities’ handling of the case.
“Despite his full willingness to cooperate, Josh has been detained under irregular conditions and subjected to extensive questioning without the presence of official translators or legal counsel until Wednesday, March 12,” his parents, Albert and Tina Riibe, said through their attorneys.
People enjoy time on the beach at the RIU Republica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Thursday, March 13, 2025. Sudiksha Konanki, 20, was last seen on a beach outside the five-star RIU Republica Resort in the Dominican Republic on March 6. 2025. (Santiago Baez for Fox News Digital)
His parents said the 22-year-old “has remained in his hotel room under police surveillance and has been repeatedly taken to the police station since March 6, where he has been interrogated for long hours.”
“This situation has raised serious concern within his family, which has led us to retain legal counsel to initiate legal actions ensuring his safety and the protection of his rights throughout this process,” they said.
Local authorities search for missing US student Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Thursday, March 13, 2025. Konanki, 20, was last seen on a beach outside the five-star RIU Republica Resort in the Dominican Republic on March 6. 2025. (Santiago Baez for Fox News Digital)
The family said they were willing to continue cooperating with search efforts and wanted to share their “deep sorrow and solidarity” with Konanki’s family.
“Above all, we wish to contribute to the search efforts and understand the anguish and uncertainty they are going through and we share the hope that Sudiksha will be found as soon as possible,” they said. “Joshua Riibe is deeply dismayed by her disappearance and has fully cooperated in the search and clarification of the facts from the very beginning.”
Fox News’ Michael Ruiz and Bryan Llenas contributed to this report.
