There has been much speculation in the case of missing 20-year old Sudiksha Konanki, an Indian 20-year old resident of Loudon County, Virginia and student of premed at the University of Pittsburgh who is missing since the dawn of 6 March 2025. She came to Punta Cana with five girlfriends on 3 March for spring break.
The local authorities have given privileged treatment to 22-year old Joshua Steven Riibe, from Rock Rapids, Iowa and a senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, the last person known to have been with the young woman. As of 17 March 2025, he has never formally been arrested but instead has been asked to remain in a hotel room under 24/7 Politur surveillance to allow for collaboration with the investigators in the case. His passport has been kept by the authorities. He has said he has spent his time in his room, collaborating in the case and answering questions of the authorities.
Footage has circulated of Riibe and Konanki vomiting after drinking on the night of the disappearance. With friends, both were seen walking to Punta Cana beach at around 4:16am on 6 March. Riibe has said he went into the beach despite a red flag in the area was posted indicating that the beach was not apt for swimming. Riibe has said he and Konanki were in the beach when swept by a wave. He said he helped Konanki get to shore. He said he drank much water and did not notice if she made it out of the beach before dozing off on the beach himself. Surveillance video shows him returning shirtless to the hotel accommodations shortly before 9am on 6 March.
A translated version of his statements to the La Altagracia prosecutor released to the press by Noticias SIN has spurred comments and speculations that there could have been foul play. Michael Chapman, the sheriff of Loudon County, Virginia, where Konanki’s family lives, and that sent two investigators to work with local authorities on the case and the US FBI, had said there were “inconsistencies” in the statements by Riibe. Nevertheless, in a more recent statement, the sheriff said that Riibe had been “very forthright with our detectives.”
In a new development, Diario Libre reported on its 18 March issue that the parents of Konanki have sent a letter to the Police giving their view that Riibe is telling the truth and their daughter drowned. They are asking the Police to declare the death of their daughter.
The case has been given top priority by the state prosecutors. After the initial questioning by the La Altagracia prosecutor that circulated, the chief prosecutor of the country, Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso traveled to Punta Cana and reportedly spent six hours with the individual to recreate the scene. Also present was the commander of the Armada (Navy), Jose Agustin Morillo Rodriguez. A follow-up interrogation was scheduled with Riibe and the prosecutor for La Altagracia for Monday. The results of these interrogations have yet to be reported.
The parents of Konanki who were in Punta Cana had called for widening of the investigation beyond the search at sea. They have since left the country. And the Loudon County detectives who were sent to accompany the US FBI in the investigations have also returned.
There are observations that the translated version that has circulated locally is what has spurred most of the contradictions. The actual English language text has not been circulated, nor an audio.
Dominican officials previously had said they were investigating Konanki’s disappearance as a drowning, but last week prosecutors said they are also investigating whether Konanki’s disappearance could extend “beyond a possible accidental event.” This followed up with initial statements of the parents of Konanki for the local authorities to widen the investigation beyond the sea search.
The statements given to the FBI have never been released to the press. Nor the statements of the five friends of Konanki and the roommate of Riibe have been released to the press.
The case is expected to move ahead as the legal counsel of Riibe has filed a habeas corpus requesting the release of the young man given that he has not been charged. Dominican law gives 48 hours after an arrest for a person to be charged.
The hearing for the request for release given that charges have not been pressed against Joshua Steven Riibe in the case of the missing Konanki is expected for 2pm this afternoon. The young woman was last seen on surveillance video at 4:16am on 6 March 2025.
His counsel seeks the release of their client from 24/7 surveillance by the authorities and informal custody and return of his passport.
Under Article 40 of the Constitution, a person may be arrested or detained only by a judge’s written order unless the person is caught in the act of committing a crime. At the time of arrest, the arresting authority must identify him or herself, and inform the person of his or her rights. Once detained, the person is entitled to contact a family member, an attorney, or other trusted person, who may request information about the location of the person arrested and the grounds for the arrest. The arrested person must be brought before a judge within 48 hours of arrest and either be charged or released. The person can demand release through a habeas corpus hearing if there are no grounds for the arrest, or legal formalities were not followed.
N Digital reports that the legal counsel will request habeas corpus during a hearing on 18 March 2025 at 2pm at the Cámara Penal del Juzgado de Primera Instancia of the province of La Altagracia given that he has not been charged.
Local criminal lawyers call for awaiting the results of the investigation carried out by the local authorities. If the local prosecutors understand there is reason to press charges, it is likely they will do so today. If not, it is possible that Riibe will be cleared to leave the Dominican Republic and the local investigators would continue to follow up here the search for the missing person.
The case is being followed closely by international press, mainly CNN, and the local press and social media programs.
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18 March 2025