University of Pittsburg student Sudiksha Konanki was last seen on Thursday, March 6, at a Punta Cana beach in the Dominican Republic. New details surrounding her disappearance have surfaced. Konanki was last seen with a man who, reportedly, has given several versions of what happened when Konanki disappeared. On top of that, Konanki's father has asked authorities to consider the possibility of kidnapping.
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According to the local Dominican outlet, Noticias SIN, video footage shows that Joshua Steven Riibe was the man last seen with Konanki before she went missing. Reportedly, both Konanki and Riibe were left alone at the beach at around 5:55 a.m. Meanwhile, the rest of the group they were with returned to the hotel. Riibe was then captured leaving the beach at 9:55 a.m. Unfortunately, the video footage does not show what happened with Konanki.
The New York Post then reported that Riibe gave three different and contradictory versions of what happened on Thursday. First, he told police that, after a rough surf, he threw up and returned to shore. He would then ask Konanki if she was OK. Riibe would then state that he felt sick and left the water. Konanki remained in the water, knees-deep, before Riibe passed out. Finally, Riibe told the police that he saw Sudiksha Konanki walking along the shore before he passed out.
Suspected Kidnapping
As soon as her daughter was reported missing, Subbarayudu Konanki, Sudiksha's father, traveled to the Dominican Republic alongside his wife and two friends to help locate her. Subbarayudu has filed a complaint, saying that authorities should consider kidnapping a possibility. The theory at this time is that Konanki drowned, but some suggest that it's all conjecture.
"It's four days, and if she was in water, she would likely have been strewn to shore," Subbarayudu told WTOP. "She's not found, so we're asking them to investigate multiple options, like kidnapping or abduction."
"While it is possible that Sudiksha drowned, there is a growing suspicion that there may be a crime, specifically the possibility of kidnapping," the complaint filed by Subbarayudu reads. "In light of these circumstances, I respectfully request that the authorities take immediate steps to investigate not only the possibility of an accidental drowning, but also the possibility of a kidnapping or foul play."
Foul play has not been confirmed in Konanki's disappearance. As per the New York Post, Riibe is cooperating with authorities.
