Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old Indian-American pupil, vanished whereas on a spring break journey to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The final particular person to see her, 22-year-old Joshua Riibe – now a person of interest – has supplied conflicting accounts of the evening’s occasions.
Timeline of Occasions
Ms Konanki, a pre-med College of Pittsburgh pupil from South Using, Virginia, travelled to the Dominican Republic with 5 buddies on trip. On March 5, Ms Konanki and her buddies went out to get together at a resort nightclub in Punta Cana. They have been seen on surveillance footage on the membership and later strolling to the seashore at round 4:15 am. By 5:50 am, most of her buddies had left the seashore, leaving Ms Konanki alone with Joshua Riibe, a university senior from Minnesota whom she had met that evening.
CCTV footage from the Riu Republica Resort reveals Ms Konanki strolling arm-in-arm with an unidentified man, now believed to be Mr Riibe, alongside a resort pathway, accompanied by her buddies. She was final seen carrying a white T-shirt, shorts, and her hair tied in a ponytail.
Who’s Joshua Riibe?
Joshua Riibe is a university senior at St Cloud State College in Minnesota, pursuing a level in land surveying. He’s a pool lifeguard.
Described by his household as a “variety, humorous, and community-driven younger man,” Mr Riibe has been concerned in pupil actions, sports activities, and volunteer work, ABC News reported.
He was not initially a part of Ms Konanki’s journey group however met her on the evening of her disappearance.
Joshua Riibe’s Testimony
Joshua Riibe advised investigators he was with Sudiksha Konanki on the evening she disappeared.
In accordance with a transcript obtained by NBC News, Mr Riibe mentioned they have been “in waist-deep water, speaking and kissing somewhat” when a powerful wave pulled them out to sea.
Mr Riibe, who’s a skilled pool lifeguard, claimed he tried to carry Ms Konanki beneath his arm whereas swimming again to shore, ensuring she may breathe. He struggled to remain afloat, saying, “I took in a number of water.”
After they reached shallower waters, Mr Riibe set Ms Konanki in entrance of him and noticed her “strolling at an angle within the water.” He final requested if she was okay however did not hear her response as he started vomiting the seawater he had swallowed.
By the point he recovered, Ms Konanki was nowhere to be seen. Pondering she had left, Mr Riibe handed out on a seashore chair. Surveillance footage later recorded him returning to his lodge alone, hours later.
Joshua Riibe’s Conflicting Statements
Initially, Mr Riibe gave multiple versions of events.
Model 1: He vomited, noticed her standing, and assumed she left.
Model 2: He felt sick, left the water, and final noticed her in knee-deep water.
Model 3: He noticed her strolling alongside the shore earlier than he handed out.
Joshua Riibe’s Passport Seized
Authorities have named Mr Riibe a ‘particular person of curiosity’, not a suspect. His passport was confiscated, and he stays beneath police surveillance at his lodge.
Assertion From Joshua Riibe’s Mother and father
Albert and Tina Riibe, the dad and mom of Joshua Riibe, launched a press release now shared by varied media shops.
“We specific our deep sorrow and solidarity with the household of Sudiksha Konanki throughout this painful time. Above all, we want to contribute to the search efforts and perceive the anguish and uncertainty they’re going by means of, and we share the hope that Sudiksha might be discovered as quickly as doable.”
Joshua Riibe “is deeply dismayed by her disappearance and has totally cooperated within the search and clarification of the details from the very starting.”
His dad and mom claimed he was questioned beneath “irregular situations” with out official translators or authorized counsel till March 12. They alleged he was confined to his lodge room beneath police watch because the investigation started and was repeatedly taken for lengthy interrogations beginning March 6, the day Ms Konanki disappeared.
Search Underway
Authorities, together with the FBI, have launched a large-scale search utilizing drones, helicopters, scuba divers, boats, and all-terrain autos to find Ms Konanki. Dominican officers admit the possibilities of discovering her alive are “minimal.”Whereas authorities suspect drowning, Ms Konanki’s household fears she could have been kidnapped. Her father has urged officers to broaden the investigation.