Joshua Riibe, the man last seen with Sudiksha Konanki, requests release from custody, arguing he cannot be detained without charges. Despite his non-suspect status, authorities have seized his passport. Sudiksha was last seen on March 6 in Punta Cana, and Mr. Riibe’s inconsistent accounts raise further inquiry.
Joshua Riibe, the individual who was last seen with missing Indian-American student Sudiksha Konanki in the Dominican Republic, has requested to be released from custody, asserting that he can no longer be detained without charges. While Mr. Riibe has been under police questioning for several days, he has not been formally charged nor classified as a suspect in this case.
Mr. Riibe’s attorney, Beatriz Santana, filed a motion stating that her client, aged 22, should not be held without formal charges against him, according to reports from the New York Times. Although he is not a suspect, authorities have seized Mr. Riibe’s passport, restricting his movement and confining him to a hotel under police oversight.
Sudiksha Konanki, a 22-year-old University of Pittsburgh student, was last seen on March 6 on a beach in Punta Cana, where she was vacationing with friends. Mr. Riibe, who was not originally part of their group, met them at the resort. The group was at a resort disco until approximately 3 am before heading to the beach an hour later, as captured by surveillance footage.
The latest surveillance footage displays Ms. Konanki and Mr. Riibe at an outdoor bar shortly before her disappearance. During this footage, Ms. Konanki is seen appearing unwell, while Mr. Riibe and another individual are shown outside the bar, with Mr. Riibe appearing intoxicated. Both individuals were wearing the same clothing as seen in earlier footage, yet they did not interact during this segment.
Authorities noted that Mr. Riibe has provided inconsistent statements regarding the events of that night. In one instance, he claimed to have last seen Ms. Konanki in knee-deep water after feeling ill. In another version, he reported seeing her walking along the shore when he lost consciousness. Additionally, he asserted he checked on her after vomiting in the water, later claiming he assisted her from treacherous waters.
Joshua Riibe, a key figure in the disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki, has filed for release from custody, claiming he cannot be held without charges. Although not classified as a suspect, police have restricted his movement. Sudiksha Konanki was last seen on a beach in Punta Cana, and conflicting statements from Mr. Riibe have raised concerns among authorities as they continue their investigation.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
