Key witness in Sudiksha Konanki’s disappearance interviewed by police

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic-a vital witness in reference to the disappearance of the American scholar Sudiksha Konanki, the police of Dominican Republic informed that he and the 20-year-old scholar of Pittsburgh had been swimming when an enormous wave of Hen hit with Fox Information.

Joshua Riibe from Iowa accomplished an interview of just about 4 hours with the police of Dominican Republic as a witness in reference to the disappearance of Konanki and answered greater than 50 questions on what occurred earlier than she disappeared on 6 March. Riibe is taken into account by Dominican authorities as a witness within the case, not as an individual of curiosity or suspect.

Allegedly Riibe refused to reply eight questions, together with his ideas concerning the disappearance and why he didn’t inform the resort or the authorities concerning the incident. The police have mentioned that there are not any suspects and it is a case of lacking individual, not a prison case. Riibe, 24, the police informed him that he met Konanki that night time as a result of they each stayed within the Riu Republica Resort for the spring break.

Riibe’s lawyer, Beatriz Santana, refused to touch upon the case or the interviews of her consumer with the police. The Riibe household has additionally issued an announcement and mentioned: “In the meanwhile our household is happening and we’re experiencing loads of sorrow and ache. We kindly ask for privateness whereas collectively we navigate by this difficult second … We respect your collaboration and understanding.”

American Faculty Scholar disappears in Dominican Republic: Timeline

Sudiksha Konanki, 20, from North Virginia, was lacking for the primary time on Thursday 6 March, after he disappeared from a seashore within the Dominican Republic. (Handout, Hyperlinks and Defensa Civil Dominicana, proper.)

“In the meanwhile our household goes by a really tough time in the mean time and we’re experiencing loads of sorrow and ache. We kindly ask for privateness whereas we navigate collectively by this difficult second … We respect your collaboration and understanding.”

– Riibe Household Assertion

Within the early morning hours of 6 March they ran from a resort bar to the seashore outdoors the Riu Republica. Konanki had arrived in Punta Cana on 3 March and had stayed there with 5 different feminine buddies from the College of Pittsburgh. Riibe arrived on March 1.

“On the way in which to the seashore, she gave me little kisses on her face,” Riibe informed the police, in keeping with a translated transcript.

He went on the seashore and Konanki within the water whereas two of her feminine buddies stayed ashore. Riibe and Konanki had been speaking when a “huge wave” hit them, mentioned Riibe. On the time there was a purple flag warning on the seashore, which signifies a warning for individuals to not swim in tough surf.

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Folks get pleasure from time on the seashore of the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Tuesday 11 March 2025. Konanki, 20, was final seen on a seashore outdoors the 5 -star Riu Republica Resort within the Dominican Republic. (Santiago Baez for Fox Information Digital)

“[W]It’s the withdrawal of the water, it dragged us additional into the ocean, “he mentioned.” As quickly as we popped up, we tried to name for assist, however there was no person there. “

When requested what occurred afterwards, Riibe mentioned he “bought drained” and “realized that she was additionally getting bored with swimming.”

“I’ve been a lifeguard, so I grabbed her and began pulling her out. I held her underneath the arm and swim to get her out of the water.”

– Transcript of Joshua Riibe’s interview with the police

“It took me a very long time to get her out. It was tough,” Riibe continued. “I used to be a lifeguard in a swimming pool, not within the ocean. I attempted to maintain her respiration on a regular basis, so I couldn’t breathe effectively, and I swallowed loads of water. At one level I may have shedding consciousness. After I lastly touched the sand on the shore, I put her for me. Then she went to the ocean.”

Native authorities are on the lookout for the lacking of the American scholar Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, March 11, 2025. Konanki, 20, was final seen on a seashore outdoors the 5 -star RIU Republica Resort within the Dominican Republic on March 6, 2025. (Santiago Baez for Fox Information Digital)

Riibe mentioned that Konanki walked “knee-deep” within the water when he noticed her for the final time.

“I requested if she was okay. I did not hear her reply as a result of I began with all of the seawater I had swallowed,” mentioned Riibe. “After surrendering, I seemed round and did not see anybody. I believed she had caught her issues and had left. I felt actually unhealthy and exhausted. I lay down on a seashore chair, fell asleep as a result of I couldn’t go far and awakened later due to the solar and mosquito bites.

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Native authorities are on the lookout for the lacking of the American scholar Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Tuesday 11 March 2025. Konanki, 20, was final seen on a seashore outdoors the 5 -star RIU Republica Republica Reping Resort within the Dominican Republic. (Santiago Baez for Fox Information Digital)

Riibe additionally informed the police that he “anticipated to see her the subsequent day” and thought he would “come throughout her within the space”.

“After I noticed her run away within the water, I by no means noticed her once more.”

– Transcript of Joshua Riibe’s interview with the police

Riibe mentioned he slept in his room when his pal requested him if he had seen Konanki, to which Riibe replied no.

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Sudiksha Konanki on a Fb selfie picture. The 20-year-old College of Pittsburgh Junior has been lacking since 6 March, when she disappeared throughout a spring break to a five-star resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. (Sudiksha Konanki/Fb)

“I believed she had gone to her room. Her buddies have despatched my pal since he had considered one of their songs,” mentioned Riibe.

The Iowa man mentioned his buddies went to the seashore the subsequent day and located his “possessions” as a result of he “she by no means picked up”, besides a number of sneakers and a room key that he mentioned: “Somebody had stolen.”

Outside view of a police station in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. (Kirill Clark)

Riibe informed the police that he had drunk vodka with 7UP and Tequila recordings, including that the group of girls with whom he had been purchased with “pink tequila -schoten” that they drank as a gaggle.

He didn’t reply eight questions concerning the recommendation of his legal professionals, in keeping with the transcript, together with the next:

1. How can we confirm that all the things you’ve gotten mentioned is true?

2. What did you inform your pal when he requested concerning the lacking woman, Konanki-Sudiksha?

3. What do you consider the disappearance of Sudiksha?

4. Did Sudiksha know the best way to swim or not?

5. Do you bear in mind whether or not Sudiksha made gestures or screamed within the sea?

6. Have you ever knowledgeable the authorities or the resort about what occurred to you and the woman on the seashore?

7. Have you ever informed your pal what occurred between you and the woman on the seashore?

8. What do you consider this case?

Seaside Loungers zitten op het zand aan de zee in het Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominicaanse Republiek, dinsdag 11 maart 2025. Konanki, 20, werd voor het laatst gezien op 6 maart op een strand buiten de vijfsterren Riu Republica Republica Republica Republica Republica Republica Republica Republica Republica Republica Republica Republica Republica Republica Republica Republica Republica Republica Republica Republica Republica Republica. (Santiago Baez for Fox Information Digital)

The Sheriff’s Workplace of Loudoun County in Virginia, the place Konanki lives, has mentioned that Riibe “just isn’t an individual of curiosity, nor a suspect for a prison investigation. This was initiated as and remains to be an investigation into lacking individual, and for that function he’s an individual vital for our company.”

The Sheriff’s Workplace of Loudoun County informed Fox Information Digital on Friday that it spoke with Riibe on Thursday.

“On Thursday afternoon, March 13, 2025, Detectives of the Sheriff’s Workplace (LCSO) of Loudoun County held an intensive interview with Mr. Joshua Riibe. His father and lawyer accompanied Mr. Riibe, and he was cooperative.

The Riibe household mentioned in an announcement: “In the meanwhile our household is happening and we’re experiencing loads of sorrow and ache. We kindly ask for privateness whereas we navigate collectively by this difficult second … We respect your collaboration and understanding.”

Army employees are on the lookout for Sudiksha Konanki, a scholar from the College of Pittsburgh from the US who disappeared on a seashore in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Monday, March 10, 2025. (AP Photograph/Francesco Spotorno)

In January, 4 vacationers drowned close to Punta Cana, when a purple flag warned of sturdy currents and tough seas, in keeping with the Related Press.

Konanki was final seen on surveillance photos from Riu Republica to the seashore with seven different individuals, together with 5 ladies and two males, round 4.15 am on March 6. She was final seen on the seashore round 4:50 am, in keeping with the Dominican Republic of Attorneur’s Workplace and the resort.

Resort monitoring photos then present a gaggle of six individuals, together with 5 ladies and one man, who returns to the resort from the seashore round 5:55 am

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The younger man who was beforehand seen with Konanki may be seen on surveillance photos that enter the inside of the resort round 9 am on March 6.

Authorities ask everybody with data to contact the Sheriff’s Workplace of Loudoun County on 703-777-1021. To remain nameless, name the Loudoun Crime Solvers on 703-777-1919.