Joshua Riibe Argues for Release Amid Investigation of Sudiksha Konanki’s Disappearance

Joshua Riibe, the last person seen with Sudiksha Konanki, claims he cannot be detained any longer without charges. He has faced questioning but is neither charged nor named as a suspect. Sudiksha disappeared during a trip to the Dominican Republic, and Riibe’s conflicting statements regarding the incident have drawn scrutiny from authorities.

Joshua Riibe, the individual who last saw the missing Indian-American student Sudiksha Konanki in the Dominican Republic, has stated that he cannot be detained any longer. Mr. Riibe has been in custody for several days, during which he has faced intense questioning by law enforcement in the region. However, he remains neither formally charged nor identified as a suspect in the case.

Mr. Riibe’s attorney, Beatriz Santana, articulated in a motion filed on Monday that he should not be held any longer without formal charges. According to reports from the New York Times, despite not being a suspect, authorities have confiscated Mr. Riibe’s passport and prevented him from leaving a hotel freely.

Sudiksha Konanki, a 22-year-old University of Pittsburgh student from Virginia, was last seen at a beach in Punta Cana on March 6. She was on vacation with five friends during spring break when she met Mr. Riibe, who was not part of her initial travel group. On the night of her disappearance, the group partied at a resort disco until approximately 3 AM before heading to the beach an hour later.

Surveillance footage documented the group arriving at the beach around 4:15 AM, but by 5:50 AM, most friends had departed, leaving Ms. Konanki with Mr. Riibe. Hours later, Mr. Riibe was observed alone, and Ms. Konanki has not been found since. Additional surveillance footage shows the duo at an outdoor bar preceding her disappearance, during which Ms. Konanki appears to vomit.

Eyewitness reports indicate conflicting statements from Mr. Riibe regarding Ms. Konanki’s whereabouts. In one account, he claimed to have left her in knee-deep water after feeling unwell; in another, he stated he saw her walking along the shore before passing out. In yet another statement, he mentioned checking on her after being ill in the water. Most recently, he alleged that he rescued her from turbulent waters.

In summary, Joshua Riibe, the last person seen with Sudiksha Konanki, argues for his release from custody as he has not been charged with any crime. Sudiksha, a college student, disappeared during a vacation in the Dominican Republic. Conflicting accounts from Mr. Riibe raise questions about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance, while ongoing investigations by local authorities continue.

Original Source: www.ndtv.com