English
A Dominican Republic judge has granted freedom to Joshua Riibe, the last known person to see missing American tourist Sudiksha Konanki before her disappearance on March 6.
Riibe’s attorney, Alfredo Guzmán Saladín, had filed a habeas corpus petition requesting his client’s release and the return of his passport, which was allegedly confiscated by Dominican authorities during the investigation.
During the hearing on March 18, Judge Edwin Rijo ruled that Riibe, 22, should not be detained, emphasizing that he had fully cooperated with investigators. “He is a witness, not a suspect,” the judge stated.
The courtroom was packed with journalists, prompting a relocation to a larger space. Prosecutors asserted that Riibe had not been under arrest and was free to move around his hotel. However, Riibe contradicted this claim, stating in court that officials had taken his passport and phone.
“I just want to go home, hug my family,” Riibe said via a translator. “I understand I’m here to help, and I’ve done that for ten days.”
Riibe’s lawyers expressed their condolences to Konanki’s family while also thanking the Dominican judiciary for ensuring their client’s legal rights were respected. Riibe’s father, who attended the hearing, described his son’s situation as being “held captive” in the hotel.
Riibe recounted the night of Konanki’s disappearance, telling investigators that the two were in waist-deep water when a powerful wave pulled them out to sea. A former lifeguard, Riibe said he struggled to bring Konanki back to shore, eventually succeeding.
“The last time I saw her, she was walking in knee-deep water. I asked if she was okay, but I didn’t hear her answer because I started vomiting all the seawater I swallowed,” he told officials. After recovering, he assumed she had left the beach.
Authorities in both the U.S. and the Dominican Republic now believe Konanki drowned. Her family has formally requested a declaration of death, citing the discovery of her clothes on a nearby beach and the absence of evidence suggesting foul play.
“We are coming to terms with the heartbreaking reality that our daughter has drowned,” Konanki’s father said. “This is incredibly difficult for us to process, and we ask for privacy as we grieve.”
The Dominican Republic National Police confirmed that the request for
