Foul Play? Investigation Into Sudiksha Konanki Disappearance Deepens

India-West News Desk

RICHMOND, VA – Authorities in the Dominican Republic have intensified their investigation into Joshua Riibe, the last person seen with University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki before her disappearance. Riibe, a senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, has been held for questioning at the RIU Hotel & Resort in Punta Cana since shortly after Konanki went missing on March 6.

According to Spanish-language outlet Noticias SIN, Riibe was interrogated by Dominican Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso and Navy Vice Admiral Agustin Morillo Rodriguez  on March 16 and he faces further questioning. While Riibe has not been charged with any crime, authorities have seized his passport and placed him under police monitoring.

A statement from the Dominican government confirmed that Riibe remains in custody at the National Police’s Gender Violence Unit as officials gather more information. Officials reiterated that Riibe is a “person of interest” and remains under close monitoring as the inquiry progresses.

Authorities first suspected drowning, given rough conditions that claimed three lives earlier this year, but have not ruled out foul play.