Joshua Steven Riibe, a 22-year-old from Rock Rapids, Iowa, has unexpectedly found himself at the center of a high-profile investigation in the Dominican Republic. A senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, where he is majoring in land surveying and mapping sciences, Riibe was enjoying his spring break at the RIU Hotel & Resort in Punta Cana when he crossed paths with Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student. What started as an ordinary vacation quickly spiraled into a mystery that has drawn international attention.
On the night of March 6, 2025, surveillance cameras captured Riibe and Konanki walking arm-in-arm near the beach after a night of partying with friends. The two had met earlier that evening at the resort’s bar, where they drank and socialized before deciding to head toward the ocean. The footage showed Konanki, dressed in a white netted sarong and beige flip-flops, laughing and engaging in conversation with Riibe. As the early morning hours crept in, their friends began to trickle back to their rooms, leaving Riibe and Konanki alone by the water’s edge.
Joshua Steven Riibe From Iowa Is a Person of Interest in Sudiksha Konanki’s Disappearance
According to Riibe’s account, the two waded into waist-deep water, talking and kissing under the moonlight. He described the moment as romantic, until a powerful wave crashed into them, sweeping them further into the ocean. “A big wave came and hit us both, then the tide pulled us into the ocean,” Riibe told investigators. He claimed that he had experience as a lifeguard in a pool but was unprepared for the force of the sea. As they struggled, he said he managed to pull Konanki closer to shore while swallowing mouthfuls of saltwater. “I was trying to get her to breathe, but that didn’t allow me to breathe all the time, and I swallowed a lot of water,” he explained.
Riibe recounted that he eventually reached shallow water and began vomiting from the intake of seawater. At that moment, he said, Konanki was still standing in knee-deep water, walking toward the area where she had left her belongings. “The last time I saw her, I asked if she was OK,” he recalled. “I didn’t hear her answer because I started vomiting all the sea water I had swallowed.” Feeling exhausted, Riibe stated that he lay down on a beach chair and fell asleep. By the time he woke up, Konanki was gone.
At approximately 4 p.m. that day, Konanki’s friends reported her missing when she failed to return to her room. Dominican authorities launched an extensive search involving drones, divers, and sniffer dogs, combing the beach and the surrounding waters. Soon, evidence emerged—a white sarong and a pair of flip-flops, eerily similar to the ones Konanki had been wearing, were found draped over a chaise lounge at the beach.
His Parents Claim Unfair Treatment in the Investigation
Riibe, a former high school wrestler, was swiftly identified as the last person to see Konanki before she disappeared. On March 12, Dominican authorities seized his passport, preventing him from leaving the country while the investigation unfolded. His parents, Albert and Tina Riibe, have since spoken out, claiming their son has been subjected to “irregular conditions” and extensive questioning without proper legal representation.
“Despite his full willingness to cooperate, Josh has been detained under irregular conditions and subjected to extensive questioning without the presence of official translators or legal counsel until Wednesday, March 12,” the Riibes said in a statement.
Authorities have not formally named Riibe as a suspect, but inconsistencies in his statements have raised suspicions. During multiple interrogations, Riibe reportedly changed his version of events. Initially, he said he had left Konanki in knee-deep water before he passed out on the beach. Later, he told authorities that she was struggling in the ocean, and he had attempted to save her. Investigators have also questioned why he did not immediately notify hotel staff or authorities about the incident.
Joshua Riibe Is Dating a Girlfriend Whose Identity Has Not Been Publicly Revealed
Adding to the complexity, Riibe has a girlfriend back home. Reports have surfaced questioning his trustworthiness, as some believe he may have withheld details to avoid complications in his relationship. While this does not necessarily indicate wrongdoing, it has cast a shadow of doubt over his credibility.
Meanwhile, Konanki’s family remains desperate for answers. Her parents, Subbarayudu and Sreedevi Konanki, flew to the Dominican Republic to aid in the search. They have expressed concern that their daughter may not have drowned but instead fallen victim to foul play. “We don’t think she would be able to survive for more than three days in the water, and I think something else might’ve happened to her,” her father said.
Joshua Riibe, the man who last saw missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, told investigators he tried to save her from the ocean.
Authorities believe Konanki died by drowning and say Riibe is not a suspect. pic.twitter.com/eqt17S1mbC
— ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) March 15, 2025
As the investigation continues, the case remains open-ended. The Dominican Republic’s authorities, in coordination with the FBI, are still searching for concrete evidence that could explain what happened to Konanki. Riibe, confined to his hotel under constant police escort, maintains that he has been cooperative throughout the process. “I’m just trying to help them out,” he told NBC News. “The ocean is a dangerous place.”
With each passing day, the mystery deepens. Did Konanki truly succumb to the ocean’s currents, or is there more to the story? And what role, if any, does Joshua Steven Riibe play in her disappearance? Until new evidence emerges, the case remains a haunting puzzle, leaving both families searching for closure.
