“Person of interest” Joshua Riibe’s lawyers are demanding that he be released from custody within the Dominican Republic because the seek for missing U.S. tourist Sudiksha Konanki continues.
Konanki, a 20-year-old student on the University of Pittsburgh and an Indian citizen, vanished before dawn on March 6 within the resort town of Punta Cana.
Surveillance footage of Konanki showed the missing student arm-in-arm with Riibe, while two women walked behind them as they left the Riu Republica Hotel and headed towards the beach. Riibe, 22, has now been “confined” to the hotel in Punta Cana, where he was last seen with Konanki before she disappeared.
Riibe, who has not been charged with any crime, is believed to be the last person to see Konanki before her disappearance.
According to Dominican Republic outlet Noticias SIN, Riibe’s lawyers have filed a habeas corpus petition searching for the discharge of their client. A hearing will probably be held on Tuesday in reference to Riibe’s lawyers’ petition, the outlet reported.
Riibe was also spotted with investigators and his lawyer on a beach in Punta Cana on Sunday. He was seen pointing toward the ocean while a bunch of security officials kept people away from the world, in keeping with NBC News.
His passport was seized by authorities on March 14 as a part of the continuing investigation.
“He’s permanently escorted by the police anywhere he goes,” the law firm Riibe is working with said, adding that he’s “not free to depart.”
“I’m just attempting to help them out,” Riibe said in reference to authorities’ seek for Konanki. “The ocean is a dangerous place.”
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and world wide, join for breaking news alerts delivered on to you after they occur.
Riibe’s parents have accused Dominican officials of detaining him “under irregular conditions” without translators or legal counsel, saying he has been confined to a hotel room with police surveillance for greater than every week.
They said Riibe, a senior at St. Cloud University, has been repeatedly taken to the police station and interrogated, adding that he has “fully cooperated” with police.
Subbarayudu and Sreedevi Konanki, the parents of the missing University of Pittsburgh student, at the moment are asking Dominican police for a declaration of death nearly two weeks after she vanished from the resort in Punta Cana.
Dominican Republic National Police spokesperson Diego Pesqueira said on Monday that Konanki’s family sent a letter “requesting declaration of death.”
The letter, viewed by Global News, said the family made the request “after much deliberation” and thanked supporters for his or her international search efforts.
“Following an intensive search, Dominican authorities have concluded that Sudiksha is believed to have drowned,” her parents wrote in a letter to La Policia Nacional. “Her clothes were discovered on a beach near where she was last seen. The person last seen together with her is cooperating with the investigation, and no evidence of foul play has been found.
“We understand that certain legal procedures should be followed and are prepared to comply with any vital formalities or documentation.
“Initiating this process will allow our family to start the grieving process and address matters related to her absence.”
“While no declaration can truly ease our grief, we trust that this step will bring some closure and enable us to honor her memory.”
Konanki’s parents flew to Punta Cana with two family friends after learning of their daughter’s disappearance. Subbarayudu and a family friend filed a record of criticism on March 9, asking authorities to widen the investigation.
The criticism noted that the scholar’s belongings, including her phone and wallet, were left together with her friends, “which is unusual because she all the time carried her phone together with her.”
“In light of those circumstances, I respectfully request that the authorities take immediate steps to analyze not only the potential for an accidental drowning, but additionally the potential for a kidnapping or foul play,” he wrote, in keeping with WTOP-FM.
Earlier this month, Konaki’s father wanted local authorities “to also investigate other possibilities, including whether this can be a case of kidnapping or human trafficking.”
“We don’t think she would have the opportunity to survive for greater than three days within the water and I feel something else might’ve happened to her,” he added.
— With files from The Associated Press
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
