Investigation of Missing Student as Accident in Punta Cana

The disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student, during her spring break in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, is being investigated as an accident by local authorities. Despite the identification of Joshua Riibe as a person of interest by U.S. officials, the case remains a missing person investigation rather than a criminal one. Konanki was last seen near the RIU Republica Resort beach with Riibe after her friends returned to their hotel. Surveillance footage captured Riibe returning alone hours later, with conflicting accounts from him about their time at the beach. U.S. authorities, including the FBI, are assisting Dominican officials in the investigation, which includes reviewing surveillance footage and re-interviewing witnesses. The Dominican Republic's president has emphasized the accidental nature of the incident, aligning with the preliminary conclusions of local police.