Joshua Riibe, Last Person Seen with Sudiksha Konanki, Seeks Release from Custody

Joshua Riibe, the last person seen with missing student Sudiksha Konanki, requests release from detention as he remains uncharged. Despite this, authorities confiscated his passport and his conflicting statements raise concerns. Surveillance footage contributes to the ongoing investigation into Konanki’s disappearance from a Punta Cana beach.

Joshua Riibe, identified as the last person to see missing Indian-American student Sudiksha Konanki, has urged the Dominican Republic authorities to allow him to return home. He has been in custody for several days, despite not being charged or formally recognized as a suspect. His attorney, Beatriz Santana, asserts that Riibe cannot be detained indefinitely without formal charges, as reported by the New York Times.

Although Mr. Riibe remains uncharged, authorities have confiscated his passport, restricting his freedom of movement. Ms. Santana emphasized in a local media interview that if he wishes to leave his hotel accommodation, police must accompany him due to the passport seizure. Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student from Virginia, was last observed on a beach in Punta Cana on March 6, having traveled with a group of friends for spring break. Mr. Riibe, not initially part of her travel entourage, met them at the resort.

On the night of her disappearance, Konanki and her friends enjoyed festivities at a resort disco until early morning before heading to the beach. Surveillance footage captured them arriving at the beach around 4:15 am, but by 5:50 am, only Mr. Riibe and Sudiksha remained, as her friends departed. Recent footage shows both individuals at an outdoor bar prior to Konanki’s disappearance, with the footage indicating that she succumbed to illness before returning to the bar. Mr. Riibe, perceived to be intoxicated in the footage, was seen receiving assistance.

Authorities report that Mr. Riibe has provided varying accounts of the events surrounding Konanki’s disappearance. In one narrative, he stated that he last saw her in shallow water after becoming unwell, while in another, he claimed to have observed her walking along the beach before losing consciousness. In his latest statement, Riibe alleged that he rescued her from turbulent waters.

The ongoing investigation into Sudiksha Konanki’s disappearance has placed Joshua Riibe in a precarious situation. Although he is not officially charged, confusion remains due to his conflicting statements regarding the events leading up to her last sighting. The actions of Dominican authorities, including the confiscation of his passport, indicate the seriousness of the investigation, as the search for Ms. Konanki continues without resolution.

Original Source: www.ndtv.com