The case of missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki has taken an unexpected turn as experts now suggest drowning might not be the cause of her disappearance.
Konanki, 20, was last seen in the early hours of March 6 at the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana.
While authorities in the Dominican Republic were quick to suggest she drowned, private investigators and forensic experts believe there could be a more sinister explanation.
Investigators Push Back Against Drowning Theory
Toby Braun, a private investigator specializing in missing persons cases, insists that the possibility of Konanki being alive cannot be ruled out.
He warns against dismissing her disappearance as an accidental drowning, arguing that such assumptions could work in favor of a potential kidnapper.
“We can’t let this be written off as a case of a drunk college student on spring break making a mistake,” Braun stated.
“That’s exactly the kind of distraction that could allow a real crime to go unnoticed.”
Ocean Experts Cast Doubt on Drowning Explanation
Stephen Leatherman, a professor at Florida International University known as “Dr. Beach,” supports the notion that Konanki’s body should have already surfaced if she had drowned.
He points to the warm waters of the Caribbean, which typically speed up the process of bringing a body to the surface.
“If she drowned, her body would have already washed up on shore,” Leatherman said.
“I’ve studied cases like this for decades, and the idea that she’s stuck on a reef doesn’t hold up scientifically.”
Leatherman also dismissed the idea that ocean predators played a role, explaining that tiger sharks, which inhabit the region, rarely come close to shore.
The Shadow of Human Trafficking
Braun also raised concerns that Konanki may have been abducted, noting the Dominican Republic’s history with human trafficking.
He emphasized that the involvement of Interpol and the FBI suggests that authorities are taking alternative theories seriously.
“Human trafficking is a very real issue in this region, and when a young woman disappears without a trace, it cannot be ignored,” Braun added.
“The fact that the FBI is involved indicates that abduction is being considered as a possibility.”
Suspicion Grows Around Last Person to See Her
Joshua Riibe, a 24-year-old former high school wrestling champion from Iowa, was the last person seen with Konanki before she vanished. CCTV footage captured them walking to the beach at 4:15 a.m.
Riibe has not been named a suspect, but he remains under heavy police surveillance at the resort.
Riibe claims that he and Konanki were in waist-deep water when a wave hit them, pulling them out further into the ocean.
He says he managed to pull her back to safety before collapsing on the beach from exhaustion.
When he looked up, he says she was gone. However, his reluctance to answer certain police questions, citing advice from his lawyers, has fueled speculation.
Conflicting Accounts and Unanswered Questions
Riibe’s account of the night has been inconsistent, possibly due to multiple translators being present during different police interviews.
His family insists that he has cooperated fully with investigators, despite being kept under 24-hour police watch.
“Josh has been subjected to long interrogations without legal counsel or official translators present,” his family stated.
“He has done everything possible to assist in the search for Sudiksha.”
Still, some key questions remain unanswered.
When asked if he could verify his statements, what Konanki said before disappearing, or if she had cried out for help, Riibe simply responded, “My lawyers advise me not to answer that question.”
CCTV Footage Offers Timeline of Events
Security footage from the resort provides a clearer timeline of the night.
At 4:05 a.m., Konanki was seen vomiting at a nightclub before returning to the bar.
At 4:15 a.m., she and Riibe were spotted trailing behind a group of friends as they walked toward the beach. By 4:55 a.m., her friends were seen returning to the hotel, but Konanki was not among them.
The last confirmed sighting of Riibe was at 8:54 a.m., when he walked back to his hotel room barefoot and shirtless—alone.
Authorities Face Pressure to Keep Investigating
Forensic psychiatrist Carole Lieberman believes local officials may have been too quick to blame drowning in an effort to protect the Dominican Republic’s tourism industry.
She compares Konanki’s case to that of Natalee Holloway, the Alabama teen who disappeared in Aruba in 2005 and was later confirmed to have been murdered.
“The Dominican Republic does not want to take responsibility for missing tourists,” Lieberman said.
“It’s much easier to say she drowned than to acknowledge the possibility of foul play.”
What Happens Next?
As the days go by, the urgency to find answers grows. With no confirmed evidence of drowning and no body recovered, investigators are pushing for a broader inquiry.
Whether Konanki is still alive remains uncertain, but one thing is clear—her disappearance is far more complex than it first appeared.