Missing college student Sudiksha Konanki seen in new video with 'person of interest' at hotel in Dominican Republic

David Matthews, New York Daily News on Mar 17, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

Newly released video shows missing college student Sudiksha Konaki with her friends and a “person of interest” at a hotel bar before she disappeared in the Dominican Republic earlier this month.

Konaki, 20, was visiting the island on spring break from the University of Pittsburgh when she vanished March 6 while walking on a beach at Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana. She was last seen around 4:15 a.m. local time, the Dominican Republic National Police said in a press release.

In the early hours of March 6, Konaki and friends were with another group that included 24-year-old Joshua Riibe, who has been described as a person of interest. New surveillance video shared by Noticias SIN shows the groups at the bar hours before Konaki disappeared. Other videos show Konaki outdoors, leaning over and appearing to vomit, and a man believed to be Riibe also retching.

A previous video shared by the outlet showed Konaki walking toward the beach with a man wearing a similar outfit as Riibe. Her clothes were later found draped over a beach chair.

Police have questioned Konanki’s travel companions and Riibe. He has claimed he and Konanki were swept out to sea by a wave and he saved them both from drowning. Riibe has not been charged with any crime, but his passport was confiscated and he cannot leave the country while the investigation plays out.

The Loudon County (Virginia) Sheriff’s Office has disputed there is any evidence Konaki drowned and said “the case is being aggressively investigated by U.S. law enforcement working with the Dominican national police, with support from assets here at home.” Foul play has not been ruled out.

_____