PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic (Diya TV) — Joshua Riibe, the last individual to have seen University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki before her vanishing, has now returned to the United States following close to two weeks of supervision by Dominican authorities.
Riibe, 22, left the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, flying on a JetBlue flight from Santo Domingo to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and then on to his home in Iowa. His return comes after a Dominican court upheld his habeas corpus petition, which questioned the legality of his detention and passport seizure during the investigation into the disappearance of Konanki.
Konanki, 20, went missing on March 6 on a spring break vacation to Punta Cana. Security cameras recorded her walking into the beach at around 4:15 a.m. with Riibe. Riibe stated that they were both swept off the shore by a powerful current and tried to swim back. He last remembered seeing her wading in waist-deep water before he threw up and dozed off in a beach chair.
Authorities have searched extensively, using helicopters, drones, dive teams, and K9 units, but so far have not found Konanki. Her parents have come to terms with the fact that she drowned and have asked authorities to legally declare her dead so that they can start the grieving process.
Riibe, a St. Cloud State University senior, has been cooperative with investigators from the start. He has said that he felt cut off throughout the process, especially after his passport and phone were lost, and shared that he wants to return to the U.S.
Dominican authorities have not identified Riibe as a suspect in Konanki’s disappearance. His attorneys successfully argued that, as a witness, not a suspect, police control over his movements over 11 days was unlawful.
Riibe appeared in court for a habeas corpus hearing requested by his lawyers, who argue that the 22-year-old is being unlawfully detained.
Prosecutors asserted that Riibe is a witness rather than a detainee.
Authorities had seized Riibe’s passport, and he testified that police had followed him to meals and observed him while he ate. His attorneys requested the return of his passport and the freedom to leave the hotel without surveillance.
“I can’t go anywhere. And I really want to be able to go home, talk to my family, give them hugs, tell them I miss them,” Riibe said. “I understand I’m here to help, but it’s been 10 days and I can’t leave.”
Riibe’s father traveled to the Dominican Republic to support him.
