Before the disappearance of an American university student in the Dominican Republic, she and the last of the people she watched with on March 6 were drinking before they decided to swim in harsh surfing, prompting questions about the responsibility that the resort they could face.
In the early morning hours of March 6, Sodicha Conniki and her friends walked from a hotel bar to the beach outside Rio Riblika in Punta Cana, where she was staying with five friends from the University of Pittsburg.
It seems that the 20 -year -old girl went to swim with a 22 -year -old man named Joshua Ribi, from Iowa, who was identified as a witness of her disappearance. Rebi appears to tell the authorities of the Dominican Republic that they swim and hit it a large wave, the last time he saw it.
“I have finished achieving an investigation into Natalie Holway when, although there are some similarities here, there are some differences,” Chris Swaker, former assistant director of the FBI Digital Investigation Office, told Fox News Digital. “But in this case, I think it is reasonable, based on everything I read, that it drowned … … I don’t think it is a strange assumption here, based on the facts, that they were somewhat drunk.”
The main witness tells the student’s disappearance at the American College of the police how they met, and what happened on the beach
Sodiksha Conniki, 20, has been missing from Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic, since March 6. (Bulletin/ Santiago Baise for Fox News Digital)
Ribi told the police that he was drinking vodka with 7UP and Tequila shots, adding that the group of women with whom they were from the “TEQUILA pink shots” that drank as a group.
On the beach, he and Konanki went to the water while two of her friends stayed on the beach. Rebi said that Rebi and Konanki were talking when they were “a big wave.” There was a red warning on the beach at the time, indicating a warning to people not going to swim in the surfing.
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In January, four tourists were drowned near Punta Cana, when the red flag warned of strong currents and cruel seas, according to Associated Press.
Local authorities are searching for the missing American student Sodicha Conniki in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Santiago Baez For Fox News Digital)
“When it comes to the ocean … if you don’t recover a very fast body, the sea life will take care of it,” Swaker said. “We haven’t seen a body washing now.”
“He can definitely see the issue of responsibility for the resort” regarding Conniki’s disappearance.
The missing American in the Dominican Republic: There is no suspect in the search for Sodiksha Conniki up to one week
“Depending on the standards of industry for such a resort, where there is sufficient amount of cameras, whether … people were outside the hotel because of the power outages. Was there security on the beach?” He asked.
Sudiksha Konanki in a personal photo on Facebook. The 20 -year -old Pittsburgh Junior University has been missing since March 6. (Sudiksha Konanki/Facebook)
Just two hours before Konnki disappeared, RIU Republica has resolved power outages for approximately 25 hours, impact on about 30 % of the resort, leaving some people without light, water, Wi-Fi or electricity in their rooms to charge phones or other electronics.
“In response to the publications that link the electrical failure that the RIU Republica Hotel, with a tragic disappearance of the Sudiksha Chowdary Konanki, RIU Hotels & Rsorts is firmly explained that both events are completely unrelated.”
The parent company at the hotel added that the efforts of RIU Republica employees “were ideal in terms of dedication, commitment and professional efficiency in resolving severe technical failure within hours and alleviating the effects that have had services throughout that time.”
Investigators have expanded the search area as the American College student Sudiksha Konanki is still missing. (Fox News)
Louis Felchez, a lawyer in the Dominican Republic, does not believe that the resort will be responsible unless the guests prove that “the hotel or its employees are recklessly acting.”
“If the guest is recklessly, the hotel will not be responsible in principle.”
“Likewise, with regard to the beach swim conditions, it must be proven that the hotel has failed to provide adequate banners to inform guests of the correct use of the beach.”
“If the guest is recklessly acting, the hotel will not bear, in principle, a responsibility – for example, if the guest swims outside the prestigious hours when there is no guard in the service and despite the signs of visible danger, such as red flags that indicate bad weather.”
Military individuals are looking for Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic, on March 10. (AP/Francesco Spotorno)
He continued: “In this particular case, I do not see reasons for a demand against the resort when two adults failed to follow the safety measures created by the hotel to prevent accidents. However, it will be necessary to prove that the hotel was neglected in reference, communication or implementing safety measures.”
Swaker said that Konanki’s family would be able to prosecute the resort for neglect if there is “insufficient security” or “insufficient lighting on the beach” or failure to close the beach or secure it during a red warning.
Fox News Digital Contact RIU Republica for comment.
The hotel’s horror stories appear after the American College student lost, where the resort does not insist on any connection
The last time was seen in Konanki on surveillance footage walking from Rio Riblika to the beach with seven other people, including five females and two males, around 4:15 am on March 6. The last time on the beach was seen around 4:50 am, according to the Dominican Republic office and the hotel.
Local authorities are participating in the search for the missing student Sudiksha Konanki, March 11, 2025. (Santiago Baez For Fox News Digital)
Then hotel surveillance footage shows a group of six people, including five women and one man, returning to the hotel from the beach at approximately 5:55 am
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The young man who was previously seen with Conancke on surveillance footage was seen entering the interior of the hotel at about nine in the morning on March 6.
The authorities ask anyone with contact information at the Ludon Sharif County Office at 703-777-1021. To remain anonymous, call Loudoun Crime Solutions to 703-777-1919.
Michael Ruiz and Ashley Papa in Fox News contributed to this report.
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