RESORT’S SHOCKING OFFER amid search for missing US Student
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Outrage Grows Over Hotel’s Flash Sale Amid Search for Missing Student in Punta Cana
The disappearance of 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki from the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, has taken a shocking turn, with widespread outrage directed at the hotel’s response to the ongoing crisis. While authorities, including the FBI, Dominican National Police, and international search teams, continue their desperate search for Konanki, who vanished on March 6, 2025, after heading to the beach with friends, the hotel chain, Riu Hotels & Resorts, has come under fire for launching a flash sale promoting discounted stays at the very resort where the incident occurred. The TikTok ad, boasting double rooms for as low as $88 per night, has been met with fierce criticism from social media users, who slammed the move as insensitive, with one commenter urging the hotel to “focus on the lost American Indian student from RIU Punta Cana first,” highlighting the perceived prioritization of profits over the gravity of the situation.
Investigation Intensifies as Discrepancies Emerge
As the search for Konanki enters its second week, the investigation has zeroed in on Joshua Riibe, a 24-year-old Iowa native and person of interest, who was the last person seen with her on the beach. Surveillance footage captured Konanki and Riibe together around 4 a.m., but Riibe returned to the hotel alone nearly five hours later, at 8:54 a.m., offering conflicting accounts of the night’s events, including claims of swimming in knee-deep water and later seeing Konanki walking along the shore before he fell asleep. Dominican authorities, supported by the FBI and U.S. Embassy, are re-interviewing witnesses, including hotel staff, amid concerns raised by Konanki’s family that the investigation has been too narrowly focused on drowning, potentially overlooking possibilities like kidnapping or foul play. Adding to the complexity, the hotel has faced scrutiny for a 25-hour power outage ending just before the incident, though Riu Hotels has insisted the outage, which left the beach area in darkness, is unrelated to Konanki’s disappearance, a claim met with skepticism by some observers.
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Safety Concerns Escalate at Punta Cana Resort
The incident has spotlighted broader safety issues at Punta Cana, a popular tourist destination, particularly following the drowning of three European tourists at the same beach in January 2025 due to strong currents, raising questions about the adequacy of safety measures at the Riu Republica Resort. Guests have reported ongoing issues at the hotel, including power and water outages, with some canceling vacations due to safety concerns, while others continue to frequent the resort’s beaches, undeterred by the ongoing crisis. The hotel’s decision to run a promotional campaign amidst the search has fueled public outrage, with critics arguing it undermines the seriousness of the situation and the resort’s stated commitment to guest safety. As the investigation continues, with over 300 officers and advanced forensic teams deployed, the case remains unresolved, leaving Konanki’s family and the public demanding answers and accountability from both authorities and the hotel, whose response has only deepened the controversy surrounding this tragic mystery.