Key witness details Sudiksha Konanki's disappearance in Punta Cana
A key witness in the disappearance of University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki told Dominican Republic police Wednesday that a strong wave swept her and him away while swimming on a Punta Cana beach early on March 6.
Joshua Riibe, 24, a former pool lifeguard from Iowa and a senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, underwent a nearly four‐hour interview with police, during which he answered more than 50 questions about the incident, according to a translated transcript obtained by Fox News.
Riibe said he met Konanki that night at the RIU Republica resort, where both were spending spring break. 'We were talking in the water when a big wave hit us,' he told investigators. Riibe said the red-flag warning was in effect due to rough surf. 'With the water's pullback, it dragged us further into the sea,' he added.
The witness recounted that after the wave, he struggled to pull Konanki ashore. 'I was trying to keep her breathing, which didn't allow me to breathe properly. I swallowed a lot of water and could have lost consciousness,' he said. When they reached land, he said she walked away into knee-deep water to collect her belongings. Riibe, who later admitted falling asleep on a beach chair, claimed he did not see her again after waking up.
Surveillance video shows that at approximately 4:15 a.m., Konanki was part of a group of six women and two men approaching the beach. While most of the group returned to the hotel around 6 a.m., Riibe and Konanki were left behind. He later said he encountered her again only briefly before she vanished.
Authorities have stressed that there are no criminal suspects in the case and are treating it solely as a missing person investigation. Investigators are reviewing phone data from Konanki's friends and have expanded search efforts on land, air, and sea – reportedly deploying AI-equipped drones to aid in the search.
Riibe, described by investigators as a 'key element in the investigation,' has not been named a suspect. However, his parents have voiced concern over his treatment by Dominican authorities. In a statement released through their attorney, they said that despite his willingness to cooperate, he has been held under irregular conditions and interrogated for long hours without official translators or legal counsel.
Riibe's lawyer declined to comment on his client's interview, and the witness reportedly refused to answer eight specific questions, including details about his conversations regarding Konanki's disappearance.
Konanki, 20, had arrived in Punta Cana on March 3 along with five female friends. Riibe, who arrived on March 1, said that on the way to the beach, Konanki had given him small kisses before the incident. When questioned about his recollection of events, he stated he expected to see her again the following day.
The investigation continues as search teams work to locate Konanki, with family members expressing deep sorrow and urging authorities to find her as soon as possible.
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