Departure of Man Last Seen with Missing Student in Dominican Republic

Joshua Steven Riibe, last seen with missing student Sudiksha Konanki, has left the Dominican Republic after being questioned. Konanki went missing during her spring break and is believed to have drowned. Riibe was not considered a suspect and left with a newly issued passport following his detention.

A man, Joshua Steven Riibe, recently departed the Dominican Republic following his questioning regarding the disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki, a college student who went missing during a spring break trip. His attorney disclosed that Riibe was never designated as a suspect but was initially unable to leave the country due to an investigation.

Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old student from the University of Pittsburgh, has been missing since March 6, after last being seen with Riibe near a beach in Punta Cana. Her parents have expressed belief that she likely drowned during the trip.

Riibe, aged 22, is a senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. According to reports, he asserted in a hearing that he was detained in the Dominican Republic for ten days and expressed a desire to return home to his family. His passport was reportedly confiscated by local authorities prior to his departure.

The U.S. State Department confirmed that Riibe had left the Dominican Republic and a new passport was issued to him after he applied at the U.S. Consulate. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office stated that they had conducted interviews in the case, affirming Riibe’s cooperative behavior during the investigation.

After being alerted to Konanki’s disappearance, Dominican authorities executed an extensive search operation involving drones, helicopters, divers, and police dogs, however, the search yielded no results as of this time. Authorities and family members share concern regarding the circumstances surrounding her disappearance as the investigation continues.

In summary, Joshua Steven Riibe has left the Dominican Republic after being questioned about the disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki, who went missing during her spring break. While Riibe was not named a suspect, he spoke to authorities cooperatively throughout the investigation. Ms. Konanki’s disappearance has led to significant searches, but no evidence has been found to date, raising concerns among her family and local officials.

Original Source: www.nytimes.com