Missing American student seen in new hotel security footage before disappearance

The lacking pupil of the College of Pittsburgh Sudiksha Konanki could be seen in lately launched safety digicam photographs obtained by native information from the resort the place she stayed within the Dominican Republic earlier than she disappeared.

Konanki, 20, was final seen on the seashore with a witness recognized because the 22-year-old Joshua Riibe from Iowa round 4:50 am on March 6. The couple had drunk with pals within the Riu Republica in Punta Cana earlier than Riibe stated they had been going to swim throughout a purple flag warning.

The pictures obtained by Noticias Sin from a resort bar exhibits Konanki and Riibe drink earlier than the PITT -student disappeared. There aren’t any suspects talked about in connection together with her disappearance and Riibe has solely been recognized as a witness and isn’t accused of any crime.

Konanki could be seen within the white costume in Sorong model that authorities discovered on a seashore chair after she had disappeared.

Essential witness within the disappearance of the American pupil tells the police how they met, what occurred on the seashore

Konanki could be seen in a bar within the Riu Republica Resort for her disappearance on March 6. (Noticias Sin)

Different photographs obtained by Noticias Sin from the Riu Republica foyer exhibits Konanki together with her pals for her disappearance.

Konanki and Riibe each stayed within the Riu Republica throughout separate journeys to Punta Cana. Riibe had arrived with a good friend on March 1 and Konanki had arrived with 5 pals from Pitt on March 3.

American Faculty Scholar disappears in Dominican Republic: Timeline

Konanki could be seen within the white costume in Sorong model that authorities discovered on a seashore chair after she had disappeared. (Noticias Sin)

Round 4:15 am on March 6, Konanki was a part of a bunch of six ladies and two males, together with Riibe, seen on safety video that approached the seashore. Six of them got here again round 6 am and left Konanki alone on the seashore with Riibe. He solely got here again at 10 am

He was with the police for a number of interviews, together with a Wednesday that was recorded on a transcript obtained by Fox Information.

Native authorities are on the lookout for the lacking of the American pupil Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, March 11, 2025. Konanki, 20, was final seen on a seashore exterior the 5 -star RIU Republica Resort within the Dominican Republic on March 6, 2025. (Santiago Baez for Fox Information Digital)

In response to the doc, Riibe stated he and Konanki spoke within the water when a “massive wave” hit them, the transcript is. On the time there was a purple flag warning on the seashore, which signifies a warning for folks to not swim in tough surf.

Lodge -Horror tales seem after the American pupil is lacking as a result of Resort doesn’t make a connection

Sudiksha Konanki, 20, has been lacking since 6 March in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. (Handout/ Santiago Baez for Fox Information Digital)

“[W]It’s the withdrawal of the water, it dragged us additional into the ocean, “he stated.” As quickly as we popped up, we tried to name for assist, however there was no one there. “

Riibe is a former lifeguard of the swimming pool. He stated he had bother pulling Konanki ashore, in accordance with the transcript. As soon as they had been going, he stated she was strolling away to get her possessions and he threw and fainted. He informed the police that she was strolling within the knee-deep water when he noticed her for the final time.

Folks take pleasure in time on the seashore within the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Friday, March 14, 2025. Sudiksha Konanki, 20, was final seen on a seashore exterior the 5 -star Riu Republica Republica Reprin Resort within the Dominican Republic on March 6. 2025. (Fox Information Digital)

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The Sheriff’s Workplace of Loudoun County in Virginia stated it couldn’t validate Wednesday’s transcript, however that it was in line with what Riibe informed that two Loudoun detectors had been despatched to assist with the analysis.

“Mr. Riibe is under no circumstances a suspect,” a spokesperson informed Fox Information Digital, including that the Dominican Republic leads the analysis.

Lacking American in Dominican Republic: no suspects as a seek for Sudiksha Konanki reaches every week

Native authorities are on the lookout for the lacking of the American pupil Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Thursday, March 13, 2025. Konanki, 20, was final seen on a seashore exterior the 5 -star RIU Republica Resort within the Dominican Republic on March 6, 2025. (Santiago Baez for Fox Information Digital)

Riibe’s lawyer, Beatriz Santana, refused to touch upon the case or the interviews of her shopper with the police. The dad and mom of Riibe issued a press release on Friday via their lawyer who assumed the Dominican authorities the dealing with of the case in query.

“Regardless of his full willingness to cooperate, Josh was held beneath irregular circumstances and topic to in depth interrogations with out the presence of official translators or authorized adviser till Wednesday 12 March,” stated his dad and mom, Albert and Tina Riibe, via their legal professionals.

Folks take pleasure in time on the seashore within the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Thursday 13 March 2025. Sudiksha Konanki, 20, was final seen on a seashore exterior the 5 -star Riu Republica Republica Resort within the Dominican Republic on March 6. 2025. (Santiago Baez for Fox Information Digital)

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His dad and mom stated that the 22-year-old “stayed in his resort room beneath the police supervision and has been repeatedly delivered to the police station since 6 March, the place he was interviewed for lengthy hours.”

“This example has critically involved himself in his household, in order that we have now retained a authorized adviser to provoke authorized actions to ensure his security and safety of his rights throughout this course of,” they stated.

Native authorities are on the lookout for the lacking of the American pupil Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Thursday, March 13, 2025. Konanki, 20, was final seen on a seashore exterior the 5 -star RIU Republica Resort within the Dominican Republic on March 6, 2025. (Santiago Baez for Fox Information Digital)

The household stated they had been prepared to proceed working with search efforts and needed to share their “deep sorrow and solidarity” with the Konanki household.

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“Above all, we wish to contribute to the search efforts and perceive the concern and uncertainty they undergo and we share the hope that Sudiksha might be discovered as rapidly as doable,” they stated. “Joshua Riibe is deeply relieved Her disappearance And has labored utterly collectively within the search and clarifying the information from the beginning. “

Michael Ruiz and Bryan Llenas from Fox Information have contributed to this report.