According to a report from Dominican news station Noticias SIN, the man who was last seen with Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student who disappeared from a beach in the Dominican Republic, provided additional information to local prosecutors about their last interaction. Sudiksha, 20, went missing from the beach of the Riu República Hotel on March 6, prompting a search effort involving authorities from the Dominican Republic, the United States, and India, her country of birth.
The man with Sudiksha, identified as Joshua Steven Riibe, explained to prosecutors that they were hit by a strong wave and swept out to sea after the water receded. Riibe, a 22-year-old American, clarified that he is not a suspect in the case and has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
In the ongoing investigation into Sudiksha’s disappearance, Dominican Republic Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso interviewed Riibe over the weekend. Detectives from Loudoun County, Virginia, where Sudiksha’s family resides, also traveled to the Dominican Republic to assist in clarifying any inconsistencies discovered during Riibe’s interviews. Sheriff Michael Chapman stated that language barriers may have contributed to initial discrepancies but noted that Riibe was cooperative and forthcoming during subsequent interviews.
During his fourth interview with prosecutors, Riibe recounted his efforts to rescue Sudiksha after they were caught in the wave. He mentioned struggling to keep her afloat and eventually managing to bring her back to shore. Riibe, who previously worked as a pool lifeguard, explained that he last saw Sudiksha walking in the water before feeling ill and falling asleep on a beach chair. He expressed surprise upon learning that Sudiksha did not return to her room later that night.
Sudiksha’s sarong-style cover-up was discovered on a lounge chair on the beach.
According to a source familiar with the investigation who previously spoke to CNN, there were no indications of violence. Photos of a light-colored sarong and flip-flops left on a lounge chair were captured by Dominican news station Noticias SIN on Saturday. The sarong belonging to Konanki, found on a chair on the beach after her disappearance, was also shown in a photo obtained by Noticias SIN.
During questioning by prosecutors, Riibe chose not to answer some questions, as per a transcript obtained by Noticias SIN and viewed by CNN. Since the incident, Riibe, who was in the Dominican Republic for spring break with a classmate, stated that he has only been in his room for interviews.
Riibe, a senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota majoring in land surveying and mapping sciences, hails from Rock Rapids, Iowa, as confirmed by a university spokesperson. His parents, Albert and Tina Riibe, expressed their sympathies to Konanki’s family and conveyed their desire to aid in search efforts.
While cooperating with authorities, Riibe was reportedly detained under questionable circumstances and faced questioning without official translators or legal representation until March 12, as stated by his parents. Prosecutors declined to comment on these allegations when contacted by CNN.
Riibe has been under police supervision in his hotel room and taken to the station for questioning several times, prompting his family to engage legal representation to safeguard his well-being and rights, according to his parents.
Describing Riibe as a cherished son, brother, and friend known for his kindness, humor, and community involvement, his parents emphasized the importance of fair due process. They expressed solidarity with Sudiksha’s family in the hope for her swift return.
Konanki’s whereabouts remain unknown, and officials are refraining from speculating about her fate at this time, as per Chapman. The sheriff emphasized the need for further investigation before drawing conclusions.
Riibe recalled meeting Konanki at the hotel, where they and their respective groups socialized. Konanki, who had traveled to Punta Cana for spring break, was described by her father as ambitious and aspiring to a career in medicine.
Accompanied by five fellow female students from the University of Pittsburgh, Konanki was last seen on surveillance footage entering the beach with seven others at the Riu República Hotel in Punta Cana in the early hours of March 6, according to the Dominican Republic National Police.
Before this, the group had been seen drinking in the hotel lobby around 3 a.m. Two women opted to stay behind when the rest headed to the beach, as recalled by Riibe.
According to officials from the National Police, surveillance cameras recorded five women and one man leaving the beach around 4:55 a.m. on Thursday. It is believed that Konanki stayed behind with another young man, as revealed by sources close to the investigation. The man was seen leaving the beach area at 8:55 a.m., with no sight of Konanki. Her companions initially searched for her when she didn’t return to her room, before alerting authorities. The group reported her missing to the hotel staff around 4 p.m. on Thursday, as stated by the Riu hotel chain.
Law enforcement officials assisting with the investigation mentioned that video evidence suggests there were more people on the beach around the time Konanki disappeared, and efforts are being made to identify them. It is requested that anyone with information about Konanki come forward. There is a possibility that Konanki may have encountered one or more of these individuals since no body has been discovered on the beach.
Konanki’s father is urging local authorities to explore other possibilities, including the potential of kidnapping or human trafficking. He expressed doubts about her survival in the water for more than three days and suspects that something else might have happened to her.
Dominican officials had initially considered Konanki’s disappearance as a drowning incident due to dangerous sea conditions on the night she went missing. However, investigations are now looking into the possibility of other circumstances beyond an accidental event.
The Dominican Republic navy has deployed divers to search along the coast approximately 24 nautical miles from the hotel where Konanki was reported missing. The search area has been chosen based on the assumption that if she drowned, her body would have been pushed towards the coast or coral reefs.
Konanki’s family is receiving support from the victim assistance unit of the Loudoun County sheriff’s office during this difficult time. The sheriff’s office has urged caution regarding public speculation about the case and emphasized the need for a thorough investigation before drawing conclusions.
Konanki’s disappearance follows an incident where four tourists drowned in Punta Cana at the same beach where she was last spotted, according to the Dominican Republic’s civil defense agency. This occurred due to strong currents that swept the tourists off the Arena Gorda beach, where the Riu República Hotel is located.
N’s Lex Harvey, Caroll Alvarado, and Jillian Sykes made contributions to this report. To receive additional CNN news and newsletters, please register an account at CNN.com.
