U.S. Student Presumed Drowned in Dominican Republic, Witness Unable to Leave Country

A Dominican judge ruled that Joshua Riibe, who was last seen with Sudiksha Konanki, is not a suspect but remains in the country due to passport issues.

Authorities believe Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student, drowned in rough waters during a spring break trip to Punta Cana on March 6, 2025.
Joshua Riibe, the last person seen with Konanki, testified that he pulled her from the water but later lost sight of her during an early morning swim.
A Dominican court ruled that Riibe is not a suspect in the case and allowed him to move freely within the country, though his passport has not been returned.
Riibe’s legal team is working with the U.S. Embassy to secure a new passport so he can return to the United States, with a follow-up hearing scheduled for March 28.
Konanki’s family has accepted her presumed drowning and requested privacy, while acknowledging the rough ocean conditions at the time of her disappearance.