Man Last Seen With Sudiksha Konanki Insists on Release from Custody

Joshua Riibe, the last person seen with missing student Sudiksha Konanki, demands release from custody as he has not been charged. His attorney argues he cannot be held without formal accusations. Surveillance shows mixed accounts from Mr. Riibe regarding the circumstances of Ms. Konanki’s disappearance, which remains under investigation.

Joshua Riibe, the individual who was with missing Indian-American student Sudiksha Konanki in the Dominican Republic, has asked authorities to release him from custody, asserting that he cannot be held without charges. For several days, Mr. Riibe has faced continuous questioning by police but has not been officially named as a suspect. His attorney, Beatriz Santana, filed a motion advocating for his release, citing the legal implications of his detention without formal charges, as reported by the New York Times.

Although Mr. Riibe is not a suspect at this time, his passport has been confiscated, and he is restricted to a hotel under police supervision. His attorney expressed concerns about his lack of freedom, stating, “If he wants to leave the hotel, he cannot do that freely, but with police. His passport is seized despite not being officially charged.” Sudiksha Konanki, a 22-year-old University of Pittsburgh student from Virginia, was last observed on a beach in Punta Cana on March 6 after vacationing with friends during spring break. Mr. Riibe met the group at the resort but was not part of their travel party.

Ms. Konanki and her friends were seen enjoying the nightlife at a resort until early morning. They arrived at the beach at approximately 4:15 am, where most friends departed by 5:50 am, leaving Ms. Konanki with Mr. Riibe. Subsequently, Mr. Riibe was seen alone, while Ms. Konanki remains missing. Newly released surveillance footage captures the moments before her disappearance, showing Ms. Konanki vomiting at an outdoor bar and Mr. Riibe, reportedly intoxicated, being consoled by another individual. Though both appeared in the same clothing identified in prior footage, there was no recorded interaction between them.

Authorities have noted that Mr. Riibe’s statements have been inconsistent regarding the events leading to Ms. Konanki’s disappearance. In various accounts, he has claimed different scenarios, including last seeing her in shallow water and asserting that he saved her from rough tides. The ongoing investigation seeks to clarify these statements and determine Mr. Riibe’s role in the case of the missing student.

In summary, Joshua Riibe, the last person known to be with Sudiksha Konanki, has called for his release from custody due to the absence of charges against him. Despite not being a suspect, his passport has been seized, and he remains under police supervision. The investigation continues as authorities seek clarity on Mr. Riibe’s conflicting accounts of the night Ms. Konanki disappeared, raising concerns about his involvement in the case.

Original Source: www.ndtv.com