An Indian-origin student, Sudiksha Konanki (20), mysteriously disappeared from a beach in the Dominican Republic. She was last seen walking on the beach at midnight in a bikini before going missing. Sudiksha had traveled to the Caribbean country with her friends on March 6 for a vacation. Her friends reported her disappearance to the authorities, who have been searching for her since. However, even after a week, there is still no trace of her, leaving her parents deeply worried. They suspect that their daughter may have been kidnapped.
Recently, the Dominican Republic authorities released a photo of Sudiksha walking with a 24-year-old man on the street before she went missing. CCTV footage showed them walking closely with arms around each other. They were also seen hugging each other. This has raised questions about the identity of the man. The man has been identified as Joshua Steve Rieb, a tourist from Iowa, USA, who met Sudiksha during the trip. The two attended a late-night party at a Caribbean resort with friends. CCTV footage confirmed that Sudiksha consumed a large amount of alcohol at the party. Around 4 AM, she and her friends went to the beach, but after some time, the others returned to the resort, leaving Sudiksha alone on the beach. Joshua was also present there, and they were together for a long time. Later, her clothes were found on the shore, but she was missing. Authorities used boats, drones, and helicopters for the search but found no trace of her. Joshua was taken in for questioning but gave contradictory statements, saying that Sudiksha vomited and lost consciousness before being washed away by the waves. However, no case was registered against him.
Sudiksha's parents strongly believe she was kidnapped. They argue that if she had drowned, her body would have surfaced by now. Authorities are now investigating this possibility. Sudiksha was a student in the United States and was set to graduate from the University of Pittsburgh in 2026. She previously studied at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia. She went on a vacation with her friends on March 6 and disappeared while walking on the beach in a brown bikini. Authorities described her as 5’3” tall, with black hair, brown eyes, and distinctive jewelry, including large hoop earrings, a metal designer anklet on her right leg, yellow and steel bracelets on her right wrist, and multicolored beaded bracelets on her left wrist.
