New video shows missing pre-med student Sudiksha Konanki with person of interest, Joshua Steven Riibe staggering arm in arm as he seemingly gropes her before early morning swim in rough waters before she is last seen alive. Authorities stress the case to date is not a criminal one while disturbing questions persist.
How drunk were they actually? And could their sobriety, or lack of, have led to tragedy?
Newly released surveillance footage shows missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki, 20, staggering while walking arm-in-arm with a 24 year old Iowa man identified as a ‘person of interest‘ in her disappearance — as the search for the pre-med student enters the sixth day.
Joshua Riibe passport confiscated as he is detained under irregular conditions
Sudiksha Konanki seen vomiting at bar as Josh Riibe lawyers up
🇩🇴Otro video de la cámara de seguridad del hotel muestra con más nitidez cuando la joven india Sudiksha Konanki se dirigía a la playa con sus amigos antes de su desaparición el pasado jueves 6 de marzo en Punta Cana. pic.twitter.com/NgnEpltgAE
— 🇩🇴Sandra Acta 00 (@Sandra_Acta) March 12, 2025
Pre-med student & Iowa person of interest seen staggering drunk and seemingly groped in new released footage
Joshua Steven Riibe of Rock Rapids, Iowa has been identified as the last person to see the 20-year-old student alive early on March 6 at the upscale Punta Cana resort, in the Dominican Republic according to local authorities.
The new footage shows the pair walking near the beach around 4:15 a.m., at one point also seen holding hands, with Riibe even placing his arm across the 20 year old woman’s lower body parts, ‘as if groping her’ as the pair made their way while bar hopping during Konanki’s spring break as her friends stroll nearby, according to Noticias SIN.
Riibe, in a muscle shirt, holds out his phone, seemingly taking selfies as the pair struggles to walk in a straight line, with the still-missing student appearing to stagger at times. To what degree the pair had been exhibiting consensual intimacy remained of question.
The Dominican Republic National Police reported that Konanki, from Virginia, and her pals spilled out onto the beach from a disco at the Riu Republica Hotel following a power outage. Most of the group left the beach around 5:50 a.m., leaving Riibe and Konanki alone, police said.
Iowa person of interest claims saving missing pre-med student from drowning after kiss
Josh Riibe family insist he is innocent & did not hurt or harm Sudiksha Konanki
*CIRCULA EN REDES SOCIALES. SUPUESTAMENTE LA JOVEN REPORTADA DESAPARECIDA,*
La Joven India Sudiksha Konanki era una joven muy alegré pic.twitter.com/86Rr0jvUYA
— noticias rd noticias rd (@DelBanbino) March 12, 2025
Person of interest offers conflicting accounts of what happened during rough waters swim
The video’s release comes as the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, where Konanki hails from released a statement identifying Joshua Riibe as a person of interest in the 20 year old woman’s disappearance during her spring break vacation in the Dominican Republic with five other classmates.
To date, neither Virginia authorities or Dominican Republic authorities have stated suspecting foul play in the case. Nevertheless cause of alarm comes following Riibe offering clashing and inconsistent accounts of what happened on the last night Konanki was seen alive as the pair ‘staggered’ from a night of drinking onto the beach for a swim, in choppy waters.
According to local reports, Riibe gave three conflicting accounts of what happened next, saying the pair getting caught in rough surf and him vomiting and getting out and ‘assuming’ that Konanki had also managed to get out of turbulent waters, before passing out on the beach, only to wake up hours later with Konanki no where in sight. Later accounts included the 24 year old ‘verifiably’ saying he recalled seeing Konanki wading in knee deep water and collecting her items, before passing out.
At no point did Riibe seek out authorities to report what had happened earlier that morning and possible concerns for the well being of Konanki.
Despite the man’s inconsistencies (could it be attributed to his drunkenness at the time?) the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Konanki’s hometown, warned against jumping to conclusions.
Stated spokesperson Chad Quinn via email to the nypost, Wednesday afternoon: ‘This is not at this time a criminal investigation, so to be clear, he is not a suspect.’
Adding, ‘It is our understanding that he is a US citizen who was vacationing in Punta Cana, not part of the group traveling with the missing person.
‘A number of people have been interviewed by the Dominican National Police with the assistance of the FBI and this is continuing. Our office will have a presence on the ground today too.’
Authorities in the Caribbean island said approximately 300 law enforcement personnel are involved in the search, including the FBI, the agency confirmed this week. The rough surf has complicated the hunt.
Local police initially suggested Konanki drowned during the early swim. However, her family believes she is a crime victim — and may have been abducted.
In a press release, national police officials would not confirm reports that Riibe’s passport has been seized. The 24 year old continues to remain on the island as authorities continue to investigate.
