Sudiksha Konaki was a 20-year-old student from the University of Pittsburgh. She went missing on March 6, 2025. She was on a trip with her friends in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Sudiksha was born in India. She moved to the U.S. with her family in 2006. They lived in Virginia. She was a smart student. She studied Biology and Chemistry. She wanted to become a doctor.
Sudiksha and her five friends arrived in Punta Cana on March 3. They stayed at a hotel called Riu República. They were having fun on their trip. On March 6, at 4:15 a.m., cameras showed her and seven others walking to the beach.
She was last seen with a man named Joshua Steven Riibe. He was 22 years old and from Iowa. He said that a big wave pulled them into the sea. He tried to help Sudiksha but lost her in the water. He said he swallowed seawater and got sick. Then, he fell asleep on a chair near the beach. At 8:55 a.m., he got up and left.
Sudiksha’s family does not believe this story. They think something else happened. They say Sudiksha never left her phone and wallet behind. They also believe she would not go far into the water. They think there may have been foul play or even a kidnapping.
The police in the Dominican Republic are looking into the case. They are questioning Riibe, but they have not arrested him. The FBI is also helping with the search.Many people are asking questions. If she drowned, why was her body not found? If she was taken, who took her? Her family is very sad and wants answers.Days passed, and there were no new updates. On March 18, her parents made a hard decision. They asked the police to declare her legally dead. They are heartbroken but still want to know the truth.
Many people are following Sudiksha’s story. Her family and friends hope that one day, they will find out what really happened to her.