By Grace Gallowitz
Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student, went missing on March 6 after disappearing during a spring break trip to Punta Cana.
Dominican authorities said they are investigating the case, according to news networks. She was last seen near the beach of the Riu República Hotel in the early morning hours.
On the day she disappeared, Konanki was seen walking with 22-year-old Joshua Riibe, a senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, at 4:15 a.m. on surveillance footage, according to People.
On Monday, Virginia’s Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman told NBC Washington that Konanki’s friends returned to the hotel after 40 minutes and that she remained with the people she met on the trip.
Riibe is a person of interest, according to the Dominican Republic National Police. As part of the investigation, his passport had been confiscated.
Riibe told authorities that he and Konanki were pulled into the ocean by a strong wave and fought in the rough water. Riibe said he thought Konanki made it out of the water but wasn’t sure, according to CBS News.
Officers are looking into the contradicting comments Riibe has made concerning Konanki’s disappearance.
In another interrogation, Riibe said he was unwell and passed out on a beach chair while Konanki was still in the sea.
Investigators discovered clothes thought to belong to Konanki on a lounge chair near the beach where she was last seen. Her phone has not been recovered.
The investigation is led by Dominican police, the Dominican attorney general’s office, the FBI, a U.S. Embassy liaison, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
According to officials in the U.S. Embassy located in the Dominican Republic, “The embassy has standard procedure on how to follow cases, not just missing people overseas, but all cases.”
The Dominican national police stated the U.S. Embassy notified them of Konanki’s disappearance on Friday morning.
They also said officials are searching by land, air, and water using drones, helicopters, divers, boats, and canines, according to NPR.
“I just came back from Puerto Rico and to think that could have been any one of us,” said Marisa Pressman, a senior at The University of Tampa. “It’s so scary how anything can happen just like that.”
According to officials in the Tampa FBI Field Office, it’s important to stay in groups and avoid isolated areas.
“Registering with the U.S. Embassy through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is also a good idea,” said an official from the Tampa Field Office. This program helps embassies to locate and help travelers in an emergency.
Throughout the investigation, Konanki’s friends who joined her on vacation cooperated with local police. They additionally connected with her family, offering support at this difficult time.
As of March 18, Konanki’s parents have officially asked that Dominican authorities declare her legally deceased, believing she drowned, as stated by The Associated Press.
After working with authorities and getting a ruling that his detainment violated Dominican law, Riibe obtained an emergency travel document from the U.S. Embassy and returned to the U.S.
Since Riibe hasn’t been charged, a Dominican court approved his plea to be released from police observation.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said as they analyze the evidence and information collected throughout the investigation, Dominican Republic authorities and Loudoun County will help the Konanki family in whatever way they can.
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Photo courtesy of Grace Gallowitz.