DR, Sudiksha Konanki, 20, Punta Cana, 6 March 2025 #2

[SMK777]

I didn't see this before

"Dr. Beach" speaks....fwiw

Why experts believe missing Spring Break student didn't drown

Sudiksha Konanki, 20, has not been seen since the early hours of March 6 at the Riu Republica Resort on Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic - and experts fear foul play is why she hasn't been found

www.dailymail.co.uk

"An accidental drowning seems unlikely. The water wasn't rough that night, no high tide, and no rip currents, so she likely wasn't simply swept away,' Braun said.

'Keeping focus on her likely being alive increases the chances of finding her.'

Stephen Leatherman, a professor of Earth and Environment at Florida International University, also thought eight days was too long for her body to be at sea.

Unfortunately if someone abducted her, you also have to wonder if she's still alive.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Nonsense that the water was safe, if the red flag warnings were up. People do drown in the ocean and aren't always recovered. In my opinion, this professor is ignoring his common sense.

 

[JTribley]

Nonsense that the water was safe, if the red flag warnings were up. People do drown in the ocean and aren't always recovered. In my opinion, this professor is ignoring his common sense.

Totally agree…red flags were up, that means very choppy, rough seas. We have drownings all the time on the South Coast of Jamaica where the water is very deep, (local residents and some visitors have drowned also) - the undertow takes them out into the rough seas…some have never been recovered. Even in Negril with super calm shallow water, it has happened.

 

[branmuffin]

That’s the thing. I have been to the Black Sea, in my childhood and youth, many times. Usually at such resorts, they’d use so-called “wave-cutters”, made out of concrete and extending into the sea. But even as such, I would never get near such waves; as a child. I once almost drowned in the Baltic Sea.
But the problem is, lots of people have little experience with water but think they do. This is why I think all resorts have to add specific posts in addition to red flags on stormy days.

You've heard the saying, 'you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink'? That's the whole situation in a nutshell.

Everybody knows instinctively that being really, really drunk means you aren't functioning rationally. Everybody knows taking drugs with fentanyl means you could die. Everybody knows that walking along a busy road in the dark without any reflective clothing means you could get hit a car or a transport. People still drink to oblivion, they still take drugs that can kill them, kids still try to outrun a train on a railway bridge. Everybody engages in dangerous behaviors, whatever it is, and most of the time they get lucky. They just never think it will happen to them. So all the warnings that hotels display, about dangerous rip currents, strong waves or drop offs because of strong currents, people ignore them. Who is to blame for that?

 

[branmuffin]

I didn't see this before

"Dr. Beach" speaks....fwiw

Why experts believe missing Spring Break student didn't drown

Sudiksha Konanki, 20, has not been seen since the early hours of March 6 at the Riu Republica Resort on Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic - and experts fear foul play is why she hasn't been found

www.dailymail.co.uk

I don't think that a guy knows what the hell he's talking about. He's just piggybacking on a story that can give him a profile in the media. Everybody's wrong except him.

 

[tarabull]

March 25

Iowa man returns to the state after being connected to missing woman in the Dominican

The man who was the last person to see the missing Pittsburgh college student in the Dominican Republic has returned to Iowa.According to the DailyMail, Joshua

cbs2iowa.com

 

[slowpoke]

Sorry if my question has been covered here before, but is it unusual that the Loundoun County Sheriff’s Dept in Virginia took such an active role in Sudiksha’s disappearance in the Dominican Republic?

I note that they sent their own detectives to the DR to question Joshua:

“Loudoun County detectives traveled to the Dominican Republic to question the young man last Thursday, and have since returned to the U.S., according to the sheriff’s office.” ( LINK )

 

[Charlot123]

You've heard the saying, 'you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink'? That's the whole situation in a nutshell.

Everybody knows instinctively that being really, really drunk means you aren't functioning rationally. Everybody knows taking drugs with fentanyl means you could die. Everybody knows that walking along a busy road in the dark without any reflective clothing means you could get hit a car or a transport. People still drink to oblivion, they still take drugs that can kill them, kids still try to outrun a train on a railway bridge. Everybody engages in dangerous behaviors, whatever it is, and most of the time they get lucky. They just never think it will happen to them. So all the warnings that hotels display, about dangerous rip currents, strong waves or drop offs because of strong currents, people ignore them. Who is to blame for that?

Students who drink and use cocaine on weekends are warned to obtain fentanyl test strips because cocaine might be tainted. They know to have Naloxone with them. It would be better if they abstained from heavy partying but if not, harm reduction approach is more rational than doing nothing.

So I am just thinking of best harm reduction here.

 

[shetalksinstereo]

Totally agree…red flags were up, that means very choppy, rough seas. We have drownings all the time on the South Coast of Jamaica where the water is very deep, (local residents and some visitors have drowned also) - the undertow takes them out into the rough seas…some have never been recovered. Even in Negril with super calm shallow water, it has happened.

I have a friend who was in Punta Cana at the same time this happened, and she said that it was very rough!

 

[Cryptic]

but is it unusual that the Loundoun County Sheriff’s Dept in Virginia took such an active role in Sudiksha’s disappearance in the Dominican Republic?

I would imagine that Sheriff's departments sending investigators over seas is very rare. A key component in this case maybe the 'Dominican Republic'.

Developing countries can have limited resources and may choose to seek assistance for that reason alone. There can be other concerns as well such as tourism and the desire to be as transparent as possible. Then, there could be local feelings about sovereignty and who is offering assistance.

Mexico, for example, accepts forensics assistance from Spain in identifying cartel violence, but almost always gives US offers of assistance a fast and strong "No thank you." due to sovereignty concerns.

Meanwhile, the DR with limited resources, concerns about a tourism industry impact, and perhaps most importantly.... no history sovereignty disputes with the US of A accepts the offer readily.

 

[PrairieWind]

Sorry if my question has been covered here before, but is it unusual that the Loundoun County Sheriff’s Dept in Virginia took such an active role in Sudiksha’s disappearance in the Dominican Republic?

I note that they sent their own detectives to the DR to question Joshua:

“Loudoun County detectives traveled to the Dominican Republic to question the young man last Thursday, and have since returned to the U.S., according to the sheriff’s office.” ( LINK )

I thought this was a bit odd too. Not concerning, but odd and interesting. In some ways I am a bit encouraged. We have seen in some cases of Americans being victims in other countries, like Shanquella Robinson, the local authorities really don't care, and the FBI isn't really that interested either. So I think it of for a Sheriff to at least stand up and say he will look at this and ensure things are being looked at. I don't think he should neglect his duties in his own county of course.

 

[branmuffin]

Sorry if my question has been covered here before, but is it unusual that the Loundoun County Sheriff’s Dept in Virginia took such an active role in Sudiksha’s disappearance in the Dominican Republic?

I note that they sent their own detectives to the DR to question Joshua:

“Loudoun County detectives traveled to the Dominican Republic to question the young man last Thursday, and have since returned to the U.S., according to the sheriff’s office.” ( LINK )

Once her disappearance became known but the POI hadn't been named, I think it was a pro-active decision to travel to the DR in case the POI was a national from another country who could have left and they would never have been able to question him regarding the circumstances of SK's disappearance. I think it took them about two days to figure out that there was nothing they could charge him with and left.

 

[branmuffin]

Students who drink and use cocaine on weekends are warned to obtain fentanyl test strips because cocaine might be tainted. They know to have Naloxone with them. It would be better if they abstained from heavy partying but if not, harm reduction approach is more rational than doing nothing.

So I am just thinking of best harm reduction here.

Having Naloxone is harm reduction on a micro scale - it works for the individual who's going to partake of drugs. Having guards patrolling beaches because those initially sober guests who probably read the literature but are now raging drunks is harm reduction on a macro scale. It would be like herding cats.

 

[branmuffin]

I have a friend who was in Punta Cana at the same time this happened, and she said that it was very rough!

Yep, it's like most people who go the Cabo San Lucas are warned about the strong waves, steep ocean floor drop offs, currents and general danger but still people drown there. It's so deceiving. And alluring. It's not just drunk young people who drown it's sober 60 and 70 year olds walking along the beach in the shallows that get dragged out and can never get their footing anymore. Just like the Russian woman who drowned in Sochi.

 

[truthfinder2019]

From CourtTV

 

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[MuddyTires]

You've heard the saying, 'you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink'? That's the whole situation in a nutshell.

Everybody knows instinctively that being really, really drunk means you aren't functioning rationally. Everybody knows taking drugs with fentanyl means you could die. Everybody knows that walking along a busy road in the dark without any reflective clothing means you could get hit a car or a transport. People still drink to oblivion, they still take drugs that can kill them, kids still try to outrun a train on a railway bridge. Everybody engages in dangerous behaviors, whatever it is, and most of the time they get lucky. They just never think it will happen to them. So all the warnings that hotels display, about dangerous rip currents, strong waves or drop offs because of strong currents, people ignore them. Who is to blame for that?

Exactly.

It's bizarre how some on this thread are so desperate to make Josh a monster or at least to judge him as an awful human.

 

[tarabull]

Dominican judge officially closes case against last man to see missing college student

A Dominican judge released the full legal reasoning behind his decision to grant Joshua Steven Riibe's habeas corpus case in Sudiksha Konanki's disappearance.

abc3340.com

 

[TheTeach]

Dominican judge officially closes case against last man to see missing college student

A Dominican judge released the full legal reasoning behind his decision to grant Joshua Steven Riibe's habeas corpus case in Sudiksha Konanki's disappearance.

abc3340.com

"Riibe had been detained by Dominican police, following Konaki's disappearance, but Judge Rijo ordered Riibe's release, citing unlawful detention that exceeded the maximum period of 48 hours permitted under the Constitution of the Dominican Republic and the Dominican Code of Criminal Procedure.

According to these provisions, the Public Prosecutor's Office is required to file formal charges within forty-eight hours following an arrest or detention."



BBM: I wonder why they didn't file the habeas corpus motion sooner. Does it take that long to go through the process I wonder.

 

[arielilane]

@CStewartNews


It's now official. A Dominican judge has cleared Josh Riibe of any wrongdoing in the case of Sudiksha Konanki. Riibe is back in the U.S. after being at the center of the Pitt student's disappearance on Spring Break. He was the last person seen with her.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1906800025578917962