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Sudiksha Konanki Case: Person of Interest Details Terrifying Last Encounter Before Disappearance
The hunt for Sudiksha Konanki continues.
After cardinal witnesser Joshua Riibe told Dominican Republic National Police astir his encounter with the University of Pittsburgh pupil who went missing portion connected a outpouring interruption travel successful Punta Cana, helium was seen connected the formation alongside investigators amid the search.
The 22-year-old—who told investigators that helium and Konanki were swept into a question portion swimming successful the ocean—pointed towards the h2o connected March 16 alongside his attorney, investigators and information officials keeping radical retired of the area, according to an NBC News newsman connected the scene.
"I'm conscionable trying to assistance them out," helium told the outlet portion astatine the Riu República Resort, wherever helium and Konanki were staying respectively. "The water is simply a unsafe place."
While Riibe is not considered a fishy by Dominican Republic authorities, who are starring the investigation, the Loudon County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office has said helium is considered a idiosyncratic of involvement successful the missing persons case. (The sheriff’s office, wherever Konanki’s household lives, has nary jurisdiction implicit the Dominican Republic investigation but has sent officials to Punta Cana to assistance connected the U.S. broadside of the investigation.)
Even so, the St. Cloud State University pupil has been "confined" to the edifice since the probe began, the instrumentality steadfast representing him told NBC News successful an email March 15.
"His passport has been confiscated," the connection continued. "He is permanently escorted by the constabulary anyplace helium goes. So no, helium is not escaped to leave."
Dominican National Police declined to corroborate to the outlet whether Riibe's passport was confiscated.
Riibe's household shared a connection with the outlet expressing their sympathy with Konanki's household and defending Riibe.
"Joshua Riibe is profoundly dismayed by her disappearance and has afloat cooperated successful the hunt and clarification of the facts from the precise beginning," the connection said. "We admit that this is simply a analyzable and achy concern for each parties involved, and we spot that the probe volition beryllium conducted with transparency and justice."
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"Our lone involvement is that owed process beryllium respected and that actions beryllium taken with the fairness that the concern requires," it concluded. "We inquire everyone to commune that Sudiksha beryllium recovered and returned location to her family."
Riibe said successful his interrogation with Dominican authorities viewed by E! News that his friend, Konanki and her 5 friends had gotten shots astatine the barroom earlier heading to the beach, wherever helium and Konanki, 20, were “talking and kissing a little” successful "waist-deep water.”
He recalled a "big wave" crashed implicit them and swept them into the current, and aft surfacing, the brace "tried to telephone for help, but determination was nary 1 there."
"When I yet reached the crushed connected the beach, I pulled her successful beforehand of me," Riibe, who said helium swam them some to the shore, told investigators. "She went to stitchery her belongings since the oversea had moved us. She wasn't retired of the water, arsenic it was up to our knees."
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"She was walking astatine an space successful the water," helium added. "The past clip I saw her, I asked if she was OK. I didn't perceive her reply due to the fact that I started vomiting each the seawater I'd swallowed."
Riibe said helium yet fell dormant connected a adjacent formation seat and believed Konanki returned to her edifice room. "My person asked maine if I knew wherever the miss was," helium said. "I told him I thought she had gone to her room, and helium told maine she ne'er returned."
While a assemblage hasn't been recovered, 3 Dominican officials adjacent to the probe told ABC News they judge Konanki died by drowning. However, Loudon County Sheriff Mike Chapman emphasized that it is "way excessively premature" to marque that conclusion.
"There has been nary sighting of her successful immoderate capableness here," helium explained connected NewsNation's Banfield March 10. "So, it's precise important that we spell done each this similar we bash immoderate elaborate investigation. We are moving intimately with Dominican authorities."
Read connected to larn much astir Konanki's disappearance.
(E! News and NBC News are portion of the NBCUniversal family.)
Facebook / Sudiksha Konanki
Where Did Sudiksha Konanki Travel to for Spring Break?
Sudiksha Konanki traveled to the Dominican Republic connected March 3.
Facebook / Sudiksha Konanki
Who Did Sudiksha Konanki Travel With?
The 20-year-old headed to the Dominican Republic with 5 friends to observe the Universtiy of Pittsburgh's outpouring break.
Cristina Arias/Cover/Getty Image
Where Was Sudiksha Konanki Staying?
Konanki had been staying astatine the Hotel Riu Palace Punta Cana, an all-inclusive resort.
Following her disappearance, the edifice told NBC News, "We person been moving intimately with the section authorities, including the constabulary and the navy, to behaviour a thorough search. We would similar to explicit our deepest sympathy to the household and friends during this incredibly hard clip … we are afloat committed to doing everything successful our powerfulness to assistance successful this situation."
TikTok/Sudiksha Konanki
When Was Sudiksha Konanki Reported Missing?
Konanki was reported missing connected March 6 aft her friends returned from a formation locomotion without her. It is believed to person disappeared betwixt the hours of 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. that morning.
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When Did Search and Rescue Efforts Begin for Sudiksha Konanki?
Following her disappearance, section officials began an investigation. Local civilian defence confirmed it had begun searches connected onshore and by sea, portion a spokesperson for the Sheriff's Officy successful Loudoun County successful Virigina—where Konanki was from—told NBC News investigations included obtaining video, going done cellphone grounds and talking to radical who were with Konanki.
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What Do Officials Believe May Have Happened to Sudiksha Konanki?
On March 9, officials told ABC News they judge Konanki died by drowning.
According to a constabulary report, cited by ABC News, during the locomotion connected the beach, astir of the radical decided to spell backmost to the edifice astatine immoderate constituent during the nighttime portion 1 person remained with Konanki. The brace reportedly decided to spell for a swim, and the constabulary study notes the brace were caught by a large wave.
Officials reportedly said the friends who had been with Konanki were questioned by constabulary but had not been charged with anything.
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What Has Sudiksha Konanki’s Family Said About the Case?
Following Konanki’s disappearance, her father Subbarayudu Konanki told CNN his girl had been traveling earlier opening pre-med studies.
“My girl is simply a precise bully girl," helium said. "She’s ambitious. She wanted to prosecute a vocation successful medicine.”
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