(FOX 9) – The St. Cloud student who was the last person to see missing American college student Sudiksha Konanki before she went missing at a Punta Cana resort in the Dominican Republic is asking to be released from house arrest amid the investigation.
Student goes missing
The backstory:
Josh Riibe, an Iowa native attending St. Cloud State University, has been held by Dominican Republic authorities as a key witness in the disappearance of University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki. Both college students were on spring break when they met at the Riu Republica resort.
According to reports, Riibe told authorities initially that the two got caught in strong waves, and he initially saved Konanki from the waters. When they got to shore, he says he vomited, and she gathered her stuff and walked away. He later said he was surprised to hear she was missing.
However, according to reports, Riibe reportedly later changed his story, saying he got sick and passed out in a beach chair while Konanki was still in the water.
What we know:
Authorities in the Dominican Republic have searched the coastline for Konanki since she was reported missing on March 6. Surveillance video shows Konanki walking to the beach with a group of people around 4:15 a.m. that morning. Most of the group is seen leaving the beach around 6 a.m.
Riibe is seen leaving the beach shortly before 10 a.m. Konanki wasn’t reported missing until hours later.
Konanki’s disappearance comes two months after four European tourists drowned at the same report.
St. Cloud student held as witness
Big picture view:
Riibe has been held for questioning by Dominican authorities as a key witness to the disappearance.
Riibe has not been accused of committing a crime and his parents say he has cooperated fully with the investigation.
His parents have criticized how authorities have handled the case, saying Riibe has been repeatedly questioned without legal counsel or a translator.
On Monday, attorneys for Riibe filed a writ of habeas corpus, asking for the 22-year-old to be released from his detainment at the resort. Authorities confiscated his passport and held him under police surveillance.
A hearing on Riibe’s request will be heard at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
