Search Intensifies for Missing College Student in Dominican Republic

Sudiksha Konanki, 20, disappeared on March 6 after a late-night beach outing; an American tourist remains under investigation.

Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student, went missing during a spring break trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on March 6.
Joshua Riibe, a 22-year-old American tourist and student at St. Cloud State University, has been named a person of interest and is cooperating with authorities but denied freedom to leave the country.
Riibe claims he rescued Konanki from being swept out to sea during a beach outing but lost sight of her after returning to shallow water and vomiting seawater.
Konanki's clothes were reportedly found on a beach chaise lounge, and surveillance footage shows her walking to the beach with friends before they returned without her.
Authorities in the Dominican Republic are conducting an extensive land, sea, and air search, while Konanki’s family and Riibe’s family have issued statements expressing their concern and hopes for her safe return.