Joshua Riibe Returns to U.S. After Dominican Republic Investigation

Riibe, the last person seen with missing student Sudiksha Konanki, cooperated with authorities and faced travel delays before returning home.

Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student, went missing on March 6, 2025, in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, with drowning suspected as the cause.
Joshua Riibe, the last person seen with Konanki, was ruled a witness by Dominican authorities and was never considered a suspect in her disappearance.
After a Dominican judge ruled on March 18 that Riibe was free to move within the country, he obtained a new passport from the U.S. Consulate and returned to the U.S. on March 19.
Konanki's parents have requested that Dominican authorities declare her legally dead, citing rough ocean conditions and the lack of foul play evidence.
Riibe faced a brief detainment in Puerto Rico during his return due to an issue with his newly issued passport.