According to the Dominican news station Noticias SIN, the man who was last seen with a University of Pittsburgh student before she disappeared from a beach in the Dominican Republic has provided additional details to local prosecutors. Sudiksha Konanki, 20, vanished from the beach of the Riu República Hotel on March 6, leading to a widespread search effort involving authorities from the Dominican Republic, the United States, and India, where Konanki was born.
The man in question, Joshua Steven Riibe, informed prosecutors that he and Konanki were caught by a strong wave and swept out to sea when the water receded. Riibe, a 22-year-old American, is not considered a suspect in the case and has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
The Attorney General of the Dominican Republic, Yeni Berenice Reynoso, conducted an interview with Riibe on Saturday as part of the investigation into Konanki’s disappearance. Detectives from the sheriff’s office in Loudoun County, Virginia, where Konanki’s family resides, also traveled to the Dominican Republic to speak with Riibe and address any inconsistencies identified during previous interviews.
During his fourth interview with prosecutors, Riibe described his efforts to rescue Konanki after they were swept by the wave and she became exhausted. He recounted that he struggled to bring her ashore, emphasizing that he tried to keep her breathing while dealing with his own challenges of swallowing water and potential loss of consciousness.
Riibe mentioned that he last saw Konanki walking in shallow water, assuming she had left after he fell ill and lay down on a beach chair. He later woke up due to the sun and mosquitoes, retrieved his phone from a friend’s room, and returned to his own room to sleep. Upon being informed by his friend that Konanki did not return to her room, Riibe expressed surprise.
When asked about seeing Konanki after the beach incident, Riibe stated that he did not encounter her again following their time at the beach. Konanki’s sarong-style cover-up was discovered on a lounge chair on the beach.
According to a source familiar with the investigation who spoke to CNN previously, no signs of violence were found. Photos of a light-colored sarong and flip-flops on a lounge chair were captured by Dominican news station Noticias SIN on Saturday. The sarong belonging to Konanki was discovered on a lounge chair on the beach after her disappearance and was featured in a photo obtained by Noticias SIN. Riibe, when questioned by the prosecutor, chose not to answer some questions, as revealed in a transcript obtained by Noticias SIN. CNN has reviewed a copy of the transcript.
Following the incident, Riibe, who was on spring break vacation in the Dominican Republic with a classmate, stated that he had been confined to his room for interviews. A senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, majoring in land surveying and mapping sciences, Riibe hails from Rock Rapids, Iowa, as confirmed by a university spokesperson. His parents, Albert and Tina Riibe, expressed sympathy for Konanki’s family in a statement obtained by CNN, sharing their desire to assist in the search efforts and empathizing with the family’s distress.
Riibe has been cooperating with law enforcement, although his parents reported that he was detained under questionable circumstances and interrogated without official translators or legal representation until March 12. Prosecutors declined to comment on these allegations when reached out to by CNN. Riibe has been under police surveillance in his hotel room and taken to the police station for questioning multiple times, prompting his family to hire a lawyer to ensure his safety and rights.
Described by his parents as a beloved son, brother, and friend known for his kindness, humor, and community involvement, Riibe’s family emphasized the importance of due process and fairness. They expressed hope for the swift discovery of Konanki. Chapman, an official involved in the case, stated that Konanki is still considered missing and cautioned against premature conclusions about her fate.
Details leading up to Konanki’s disappearance revealed that Riibe first encountered Konanki at the hotel when he and his friend introduced themselves to her group. Konanki, who had traveled to Punta Cana for spring break, was described by her father as a girl with ambitions in medicine. She was accompanied by five other female students from the University of Pittsburgh. Surveillance footage indicated that Konanki, along with seven others, entered the beach at the Riu República Hotel in Punta Cana after 4:15 a.m. on March 6.
Before this, the group had been drinking in the hotel lobby around 3 a.m., as observed in the surveillance footage. Riibe mentioned that the two groups of friends had initially gone to the bar together, with two females choosing to stay behind. The sheriff’s office in Loudoun County confirmed these details. Authorities in the Dominican Republic National Police have refrained from speculating on Konanki’s whereabouts, emphasizing the need for further investigation before reaching any
According to sources close to the investigation, surveillance cameras captured a group of five women and one man leaving the beach at around 4:55 a.m. on Thursday. It is believed that Konanki stayed behind with another young man. Later, video footage showed the man leaving the beach area at 8:55 a.m., but there was no sign of Konanki. When she did not return to her room, her companions searched for her and eventually reported her missing to hotel staff at 4 p.m. The Riu hotel chain confirmed this in a statement.
Additional individuals were seen on the beach at the time of Konanki’s disappearance, and authorities are seeking their cooperation in providing information. Konanki’s father has raised concerns about other possibilities, such as kidnapping or human trafficking, given the circumstances of her disappearance.
While Dominican officials initially considered the case a drowning, they are now investigating whether other factors may be involved. Divers have been deployed to search the coast near where Konanki was last seen, taking into account the possibility that her body may have been pushed towards the coast or coral reefs.
The victim assistance unit of the Loudoun County sheriff’s office is providing support to Konanki’s family during this difficult time. Speculation around the case has prompted officials to urge caution and stress the importance of a thorough investigation before drawing conclusions.
Konanki’s disappearance follows a tragic incident where four tourists drowned at the same beach in Punta Cana. Strong currents were cited as the cause of their deaths, highlighting the dangers of the area.
N’s Lex Harvey, Caroll Alvarado, and Jillian Sykes made contributions to this report. To access additional CNN news and newsletters, please sign up at CNN.com.
