Joshua Riibe, the Iowa man who was named a person of interest in the disappearance of Pitt student Sudiksha Konanki, returned home. After being detained in the Dominican Republic for nearly two weeks, he secured a new passport from the US Consulate and boarded a flight back to the United States with his father, his lawyers confirmed on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old St. Cloud State College student had been trapped on the Caribbean island since March 6, when Konanki, 20, mysteriously vanished during their spring break trip. The two had gone for an early morning swim in rough waters near the RIU Hotel & Resort in Punta Cana. Riibe told police that he pulled Konanki to safety, but then passed out on the beach. When he woke up, she was gone.
Legal Fight Ends as Riibe Gets a New Passport
Authorities initially labeled Riibe as a person of interest in Konanki’s disappearance, but they never officially named him a suspect. Despite that, Dominican authorities seized his passport and phone while keeping him under police surveillance at his hotel. His legal team fought back, arguing that he was being unfairly held without formal charges.
During a tense court hearing on Tuesday, prosecutors denied claims that Riibe had been unlawfully detained. However, the judge ruled that he was no longer required to remain under police watch. That decision allowed him to leave the resort, but he was still unable to leave the country without a valid passport.
His legal team confirmed that the Dominican prosecutor’s office informed Riibe that his passport would be returned to him. However, for privacy reasons, he chose to apply for a new one at the US Consulate instead. His request was quickly granted, allowing him to finally make arrangements to return home.
His attorneys released a statement expressing relief over his departure, saying that Joshua and his father were currently traveling back to the United States.
Konanki Still Missing as Parents Lose Hope
While Riibe’s ordeal in the Dominican Republic has ended, the fate of Sudiksha Konanki remains unknown. Her disappearance triggered a massive search operation that lasted almost two weeks, with Dominican authorities combing the beaches, ocean, and resort area for any sign of the missing University of Pittsburgh student.
Despite the efforts, no trace of her was ever found. Her parents, devastated by the lack of answers, believe she drowned. Investigators, however, have not officially closed the case.
Authorities have not ruled out any possibilities but have continued to maintain that there is no evidence of foul play. The rough ocean currents have been blamed for other drownings in the area. The lack of a body has fueled speculation and unanswered questions.
Riibe Returns to the US but Questions Remain
Joshua Riibe’s return to the United States brings an end to his legal battle in the Dominican Republic, but it does not bring closure to the case of Sudiksha Konanki.
His version of events remains the only known account of what happened in the early hours of March 6. He has maintained that after their swim, he lost consciousness on the beach and never saw Konanki again.
Konanki’s family continues to demand more answers, desperate for any information that might explain what happened to their daughter. Authorities have yet to determine if they will reopen the investigation or pursue new leads.
For now, Riibe is heading back to his hometown in Rock Rapids, Iowa, leaving behind an unresolved mystery that has left a family searching for the truth.
