Person of Interest in Missing Dominican Republic Tourist Case…

In connection with the disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki, Joshua Riibe, the last known individual with her, speaks out after authorities seized his passport. He remains confined to the Riu Republica and is cooperating with investigations. Dominican authorities, alongside family members, seek transparency and justice in an ongoing search for Konanki, who has not been seen since March 6.

Joshua Riibe, the individual deemed the last known person to see Sudiksha Konanki, spoke to media after authorities confiscated his passport. According to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, a “person of interest” had been established in connection with Konanki’s disappearance on March 6. Surveillance footage captured Riibe with Konanki, as they left a venue together with two other women.

Current reports indicate that Riibe, a 22-year-old university student from Minnesota, remains confined to the Riu Republica Hotel in Punta Cana. He is under police supervision and unfree to leave the hotel premises. Riibe expressed his willingness to assist investigators regarding the ongoing search for Konanki by stating, “I’m just trying to help them out. The ocean is a dangerous place.”

During interviews, Riibe recounted an incident on the beach, mentioning that he and Konanki had been “kissing” and were subsequently swept out to sea by a large wave. He asserted that after a struggle, he managed to bring both of them back to the shore, detailing his experience of swallowing seawater during this ordeal.

Upon reaching the beach, Riibe noticed that Konanki was still in the water but asserted that he did not hear her response when he inquired about her well-being due to his own distress after vomiting seawater. He indicated that upon checking for her, he presumed she had departed the beach area.

Dominican authorities have stated that Riibe remains a key figure in their investigation. Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso emphasized their commitment to thoroughly searching for Konanki, indicating that a comprehensive examination protocol is applied in such cases. The available footage reportedly shows Riibe alone as he left the beach at 9:55 a.m., raising additional concerns as no further signs of Konanki were evident.

Riibe’s family expressed their support and concern, asserting that he has cooperated fully with authorities and was being detained under questionable conditions. They highlighted that this scenario is causing significant distress within their family and have retained legal counsel to ensure his rights are protected during this process.

Konanki’s family members have called for an equitable investigation regarding her disappearance while urging the public to pray for her safe return. Last week, Dominican President Luis Abinader characterized the incident as an accident, pledging that all government resources are mobilized to address the situation, affirming the country’s overall tourist safety record.

Amid these developments, the Riu Hotels chain has expressed their deep concern and commitment to cooperation with local authorities, emphasizing their condolences to Konanki’s family during this challenging time.

In summary, Joshua Riibe, the last known individual with Sudiksha Konanki, remains a person of interest in her disappearance in the Dominican Republic. His statements indicate a struggle against strong ocean waves, but authorities are actively investigating the situation. Both families are requesting transparency and due process as the investigation progresses, highlighting the serious implications for all involved. The Dominican government is emphasizing the safety of tourists while the hotel chain involved expresses strong support for the ongoing search efforts.

Original Source: globalnews.ca