Natalee Holloway's Mom Addresses Sudiksha Konanki Case 20 Years After Her Own Daughter Vanished in Caribbean

Mar. 15, 2025

Sudiksha Konanki.Photo:linkedin

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Beth Holloway, the mother ofNatalee Holloway, has spoken out following thedisappearance of a 20-year-old college studentin the Dominican Republic.

University of Pittsburgh studentSudiksha Konankiwas last seen early on the morning of March 6 on the beach at Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican authorities said.

Konanki, who lived in Loudon County, Va., had been traveling with a group of six female Pittsburgh students.

Natalee Holloway was an 18-year-old from Alabama on a high school graduation trip when she vanished on a beach in Aruba in 2005. It took nearly two decades beforeJoran van der Sloot admittedto killing her.

In the years since daughter’s death, Natalee’s mother has been an advisor to families whose loved one have gone missing. Beth Holloway spoke toFox Newsfollowing Konanki’s disappearance.

“The family is so fortunate to have an American embassy there to work with,” Beth Holloway said in a statement to the outlet. “I did not have that in Aruba.”

ABC Newsreported that Dominican authorities believe Konanki drowned, though her body has not been recovered.

On Wednesday, March 12, the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office said that it had identified 24-year-old Joshua Riibe as aperson of interestin the case.

“He is a person of interest in what is still a missing person investigation,” Loudon County Sheriff’s spokesperson Thomas Julia said in an email statement to PEOPLE.

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Riibe, who could not immediately be reached for comment, has not been accused of any crime.

Dominican outletEl Nacionalreported, citing sources, that Konanki’s clothes were found on a chaise lounge on the beach and that there were no signs of violence.

Dominican police said the FBI has joined the investigation.

source: people.com