American believed to be last person to see missing US student left the
Dominican Republic
[March 20, 2025]
By MARTÍN ADAMES ALCÁNTARA
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Joshua Riibe, a senior at St.
Cloud University in Minnesota who is believed to be the last person to
see missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki in the
Dominican Republic, left the Caribbean country on Wednesday, his lawyers
said.
Following a trial exceeding five hours, Judge Edwin Rijo ruled Wednesday
that Riibe, classified as a witness in a disappearance case, should have
full rights under Dominican law and unrestricted freedom of movement.
It was not immediately clear where Riibe traveled after leaving the
Dominican Republic.
According to a statement from Guzmán Ariza, Abogados Consultores, the
law firm representing the Riibe family, the La Altagracia prosecutor’s
office offered to return Joshua’s passport. “While appreciating the
offer, Joshua opted to obtain a new passport from the U.S. consulate for
privacy reasons, which was expedited,” the law firm said.
Riibe had been detained by Dominican police, but on Tuesday judge Rijo
ordered his release, saying he could cooperate with authorities without
being detained. He was not named as a suspect.
According to the transcript of an interview with prosecutors, reported
by Dominican media as well as NBC and Telemundo, Riibe told police he
was drinking with Konanki on the beach and they were kissing in the
ocean when they got caught in a current. Riibe said he was a former
lifeguard and helped bring her ashore.
He told investigators he vomited upon reaching the beach and that
Konanki said she was going to fetch her things. When he looked up, she
was gone. He said he was later surprised to hear of her disappearance.
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A member of civil defense canine unit searches for Sudiksha Konanki,
a university student from the U.S. who disappeared on a beach in
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Monday, March. 10, 2025. (AP
Photo/Francesco Spotorno)
On Monday, Konanki's parents asked Dominican authorities to declare
their daughter legally dead.
Subbarayudu and Sreedevi Konanki said in a letter that after an
extensive search, local authorities believe that Sudiksha, 20,
drowned.
“Initiating this process will allow our family to begin the grieving
process and address matters related to her absence,” they wrote.
“While no declaration can truly ease our grief, we trust that this
step will bring some closure and enable us to honor her memory.”
Michael Chapman, sheriff of Loudoun County in Virginia, where the
Konankis live, said in a statement Tuesday that officials have been
working with Dominican authorities and continue to review evidence
in the case.
“The disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki is tragic, and we cannot
imagine the grief her family has been feeling,” he said. “Sudiksha’s
family has expressed their belief that she drowned. While a final
decision to make such a declaration rests with authorities in the
Dominican Republic, we will support the Konanki family in every way
possible.”
Sudiksha Konanki and five female friends had traveled to the
Caribbean nation on March 3 for spring break. Police said she
disappeared at a beach by her hotel before dawn on March 6.
Konanki was born in India and later became a U.S. permanent
resident.
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