Sudiksha Konanki disappearance: ‘Person of interest’ Joshua Riibe gives ultimatum to Dominican Republic cops
BySumanti Sen
Mar 18, 2025 06:58 AM IST
Joshua Riibe has not been charged or accused of wrongdoing, but is being considered a person of interest in the case.
Joshua Riibe, the person of interest in the disappearance of University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki, has given Dominican Republic cops an ultimatum. His attorney Beatriz Santana said in a motion filed Monday, March 17, that Riibe cannot be detained any longer without being charged, and must be allowed to go home.
Sudiksha Konanki disappearance: ‘Person of interest’ Joshua Riibe gives ultimatum to Dominican Republic cops (@avaaz_official/TikTok, Southeast technical college)
Sudiksha Konanki disappearance: ‘Person of interest’ Joshua Riibe gives ultimatum to Dominican Republic cops (@avaaz_official/TikTok, Southeast technical college)
Riibe has not been charged or accused of wrongdoing, but is being considered a person of interest. Authorities in the Dominican Republic have seized his passport, and the Dominican government also said that he has also been put under police monitoring. He was interrogated by Dominican Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso and Navy Vice Admiral Agustin Morillo Rodriguez.
Hearing scheduled for Beatriz Santana’s habeas corpus motion
As the investigation enters its 11th day, Santana told ABC Eyewitness News of Riibe, “If he wants to leave the hotel, he cannot do that freely, but with police. His passport is seized despite not being officially charged.”
A hearing on Santana’s habeas corpus motion is scheduled for 2 pm on Tuesday, March 18, the Spanish-language outlet Noticias SIN reported.
Over 300 law enforcement personnel are involved in the search for the missing 20-year-old student, including from the FBI, the US Department of Homeland Security and deputies from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Konanki’s hometown in Virginia.
Riibe is an Iowa native and a senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. Noticias SIN reported that he has been “in custody” since shortly after Konanki disappeared on March 6. “Joshua Steven Riibe, who has been identified as a ‘person of interest,’ remains in custody and is being interrogated at the National Police’s Gender Violence Unit to gather more information about the incident,” a rep for the Caribbean nation said in an update.
“As long as authorities consider Joshua Steven Riibe a key element in the investigation, he will remain in custody,” the notice added.
rec-icon Recommended Topics
Share this article
Us News
United States
Read breaking news, latest updates from United States on topics related to politics, crime, along with national affairs. Stay up to date with news developments on Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
See More
Read breaking news, latest updates from United States on topics related to politics, crime, along with national affairs. Stay up to date with news developments on Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.