University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konaski was last seen on March 6 in the Dominican Republic
The last person believed to have seen University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konaski has had his travel documents seized.
Sudiksha, 20, was last seen on March 6, captured on CCTV entering the beach at the Riu República Hotel in Punta Cana around 4:15 AM with a group of friends. However, footage from around 5:55 AM revealed that Sudiksha was not among the five women and one man who left the beach later that morning. When Sudiksha didn’t return, her friends began searching for her. After their efforts came up empty, they notified authorities, according to a police source who spoke to CNN. Her father, Subbarayudu Konanki, later filed a missing person report.
On March 13, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office named Riibe as a person of interest in the case. Authorities clarified that Riibe was not considered a suspect, nor had he been accused or charged with any crime, but noted that he may have been the last person to see Sudiksha. Riibe was later detained in his hotel room under “irregular conditions,” his family claimed, and was subjected to extensive questioning without the presence of official translators or legal counsel. Despite his willingness to cooperate, his family raised concerns about the situation and took action to ensure his safety. They issued a statement to WTAE:
“He 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.”
On March 14, Dominican authorities confiscated Riibe’s passport, his attorneys confirmed to NBC News.
Riibe’s family added that he is “not free to leave.” During a press conference on March 10, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader shared that the last person in contact with Sudiksha reported that “a wave hit them while they were on the beach and caused some kind of situation.”
Despite these details, the sheriff’s office has cautioned the public against jumping to conclusions, addressing the “considerable public speculation” surrounding the case. A news release emphasized: “We caution anyone from drawing any unsubstantiated conclusions and are committed to ensuring that a thorough investigation is conducted before any conclusions are reached.”
“The LCSO is hopeful for the safe return of Sudiksha Konanki, and we are committed to supporting this investigation and her family in every way possible,” the statement concluded.
