Sudiksha Konanki, a missing University of Pittsburgh student, can be seen in recently released security camera footage obtained by local news from a hotel she was staying in the Dominican Republic before she disappeared.
Conanki, 20, was last seen on the beach at about 4:50am on March 6th along with an eyewitness identified as 22-year-old Joshua Libe of Iowa. The pair had a drink with friends in the Riu Republic of Punta Cana.
Footage obtained by Noticias Sin from the hotel bar shows Conanki and Libe drinking before the pit students disappear. No suspects have been named in connection with her loss, and Libe has not only been identified as a witness, but has not been charged with the crime.
Conanki can be seen wearing a white solon style dress that authorities found in a chair on the beach after she disappeared.
A key witness of American College student loss disaster tells police how they met and what happened on the beach
Conanki can be seen at the bar at RIU Republica Resort before it disappears on March 6th. (Noticias Sin)
Other footage obtained by Noticias Sin from Riu Republica Lobby shows Conanki with her friend before her loss of disappearance.
Both Conanki and Ribe were staying at RIU Republica on separate trips to Punta Cana. Libe arrived with friends on March 1st, and Conanki arrived from Pitt on March 3rd with five friends.
American college students disappear in the Dominican Republic: Timeline
Conanki can be seen wearing a white solon style dress that authorities found in a chair on the beach after she disappeared. (Noticias Sin)
At about 4:15am on March 6, Conanki was part of a group of six women and two men seen in surveillance video approaching the beach. Six of them returned around 6am and Conanki remained alone on the beach with Libe. He returned alone around 10am.
He sat with the police for multiple interviews. This includes Wednesdays recorded on transcripts obtained by Fox News.
Local authorities said on Wednesday, March 11, 2025, Sudiksha Konanki, a student from Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, went missing. (Santiago Baez from Fox News Digital)
According to the documents, Riibe said he and Conanki were talking underwater when “big waves” hit them, the transcript reads. At the time, there was a warning of a red flag on the beach, warning people not to go swimming in the rough waves.
A hotel horror story appears after an American college student goes missing as the resort claims connection
Suddiksha Conanki, 20, has been missing from Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic since March 6th. (Fox News Digital handouts/Santiago Baez)
“[W]The water pulled back, and it dragged us further into the ocean,” he said. “We tried to ask for help as soon as we surfaced, but no one there.”
Riibe is a former pool lifeguard. He said he had a hard time landing Conanki, according to the transcript. Once they stood up, he said she left to get her belongings and he threw and died. He told police that the last time he saw her, she was walking through the deep waters of her knees.
On Friday, March 14th, 2025, I was enjoying my time at the beach at RIU Republica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. (Fox News Digital)
The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office in Virginia cannot verify Wednesday's transcript, but it coincides with the fact that the Libe was sent to two Loudoun detectives to help investigate.
“Mr. Libe is not a suspect in any form or form,” the spokesman told Fox News Digital, adding that the Dominican Republic is leading the investigation.
Missing Americans in Dominican Republic: No suspects reach a week of search for Sudicsha Konanki
Local authorities went missing Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Kana, Dominican Republic, on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Santiago Baez from Fox News Digital)
Riibe's lawyer, Beatriz Santana, declined to comment on the case or her client's police interview. Riibe's parents issued a statement Friday through their lawyers.
“Despite his willingness to cooperate, Josh was detained under irregular conditions and exposed to widespread questions until Wednesday, March 12th without the presence of official translators or lawyers,” his parents, Albert and Tina Libe, said through lawyers.
On Thursday, March 13th, 2025, people spent their time at the beach at RIU Republica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. (Santiago Baez from Fox News Digital)
His parents said the 22-year-old has been “remained in his hotel room under police surveillance and has been repeatedly taken to the police station since March 6th, where he has been questioned for a long time.”
“This situation has raised serious concerns within his family, and we have now maintained legal counsel throughout this process to launch legal action to ensure his safety and protection of his rights,” they said.
Local authorities went missing Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Kana, Dominican Republic, on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Santiago Baez from Fox News Digital)
The family said they were willing to continue working with their search efforts and wanted to share their “deep sadness and solidarity” with the Conanki family.
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“More than anything, we want to contribute to our search efforts and understand the anguish and uncertainty they are experiencing, and share our hopes that Sudhiksha will be found as soon as possible,” they said. “Joshua Libe was deeply disappointed Her disappearance And from the beginning, we have fully cooperated in searching and clarifying facts. ”
Michael Ruiz and Bryan Llenas of Fox News contributed to this report.
