Trail of Transactions: The Last Digital Footprint of Missing Student Sudiksha Konanki

 

Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old biomedical engineering student from the University of Pittsburgh, vanished during a spring break trip to the Dominican Republic nearly two months ago. Her sudden disappearance left friends, family, and investigators grasping for answers — and now, a pair of Venmo transactions made just hours before she went missing may offer crucial new clues.

Sudiksha, known for her gentle demeanor and sharp intellect, was on vacation with seven university classmates when she vanished in the early morning hours of March 6. Since then, the search for answers has taken place on two fronts: one physical, along the sun-bleached beaches of Punta Cana, and one digital — a trail of messages, photos, and money transfers that offer glimpses into her final hours.

The Digital Clues

According to bank records shared with investigators and confirmed by her family, Sudiksha made two Venmo payments on the afternoon of March 5. The first, timestamped 2:47 p.m., was for $22.89 and tagged with a sailboat emoji — likely referencing a group outing or chartered boat ride. The second payment, made at 3:34 p.m., was for $48.10, with the memo simply reading: “Coco B 🌴🍹.”

Both transactions appear innocuous on the surface. But investigators believe they represent key turning points in understanding her movement and social interactions that day. The payments correspond to events described by her friends — a daytime catamaran cruise followed by a planned evening at the popular Coco Bongo nightclub, an establishment known for its elaborate performances and vibrant nightlife.

Digital forensics specialists are analyzing the metadata associated with the transactions, including IP addresses, to determine where they were sent from and whether anyone else had access to her account.

The Last Sighting

Surveillance footage obtained from the Ocean Breeze Resort shows Sudiksha leaving the nightclub at around 3:50 a.m. on March 6. She is seen walking barefoot with another tourist, identified as Joshua Riibe, a 22-year-old from Iowa, who was reportedly staying at the same resort. They appear calm and in conversation as they make their way along a beach access path.

At approximately 4:15 a.m., the pair is seen entering the public beach area near the south cove. This would be the last confirmed sighting of Sudiksha.

By 8:55 a.m., resort cameras captured Riibe returning alone to the hotel. He was shirtless and missing his shoes. Staff say he appeared dazed but not overtly distressed. When questioned by local police later that morning, Riibe claimed Sudiksha had decided to take a swim while he rested nearby, but that he fell asleep and did not see her again.

Despite being labeled a person of interest, Riibe has not been charged and is cooperating with authorities. His phone has been seized for analysis, but no foul play has yet been officially confirmed.

Family Left in Agony

Back in Pittsburgh, the Konanki family remains in anguish. Sudiksha’s father, Subbarayudu Konanki, has been vocal in his criticism of the investigation’s pace.

“There is something missing here — our daughter wouldn’t just wander off into the ocean alone in the dark,” he told reporters at a recent press conference. “The local police need help. We need the U.S. government to take stronger action.”

The family has called on U.S. federal authorities to assist the Dominican National Police and has appealed to the FBI to intervene. A family-funded GoFundMe campaign has already raised over $85,000, which they say will be used for legal and search efforts.

A Growing Search Operation

Within 72 hours of the disappearance, Dominican authorities launched a multi-agency search involving police divers, the national navy, and K-9 units trained in detecting cadavers and live human scent. Dozens of volunteers, including hotel staff and locals, joined the search, combing nearby forests, beaches, and inlets.

Her sarong and sandals were discovered neatly placed on a lounge chair near the beach where she was last seen. Forensic analysis revealed no signs of struggle or biological evidence. One officer described the scene as “eerily undisturbed.”

Drone footage and satellite imaging are now being utilized to examine tidal patterns, while sonar equipment has been deployed to map underwater terrain. As of mid-May, the search continues with no conclusive findings.

Digital Shadows and Unanswered Questions

While the physical search persists, digital forensic experts are combing through Sudiksha’s phone data, social media activity, and cloud storage. According to a close friend, she had been messaging with someone outside her travel group in the days leading up to her disappearance — a detail that has piqued investigators’ interest.

“Sudiksha was excited for the trip, but something changed halfway through,” said the friend, who asked not to be named. “She was quieter, more distracted. We didn’t know why.”

Investigators are also analyzing whether her Venmo payments were truly personal or if they were sent under duress. One theory being floated suggests she may have been coerced into meeting someone alone under false pretenses.

Theories and Speculation

Speculation about Sudiksha’s fate has ranged from drowning — possibly after a late-night swim — to more sinister possibilities such as abduction or trafficking. Some analysts note that the Dominican Republic has seen sporadic cases of tourist-targeted crimes, although most remain isolated incidents.

Still, Sudiksha’s disappearance has sparked broader concerns about tourist safety, especially for women traveling abroad.

Moving Forward

As the days stretch into weeks, the Konanki family clings to hope that Sudiksha will be found. They have retained private investigators in both the U.S. and the Dominican Republic and continue to push for diplomatic involvement.

In the absence of hard answers, the final moments captured digitally — two Venmo payments, a pair of security videos, and a string of WhatsApp messages — have become the cornerstone of the investigation.

And while the waves continue to crash on the beach where Sudiksha was last seen, her loved ones refuse to let her story fade into the tide.