Attorneys for 22-year-old Joshua Riibe, a key witness in the disappearance of University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, have filed a writ of habeas corpus seeking an end to his de facto house arrest at the resort where she vanished. Riibe, who has not been named a suspect, spent the entire time at the resort where Konanki disappeared and has had his passport confiscated and been under police surveillance as the search for Konanki continues. Despite Riibe’s cooperation with authorities, his family has expressed concerns about his treatment and has taken legal action to ensure his safety and protection of his rights.
The search for Konanki has entered its 11th day with no signs of her whereabouts. Riibe, a fellow student from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, has been seen on video surveillance with Konanki before her disappearance. His attorneys have filed a writ of habeas corpus challenging the legality of his detention in the Dominican Republic, where he has been detained under irregular conditions and subjected to extensive questioning without the presence of official translators or legal counsel. A hearing is scheduled to be held to address the petition filed by Riibe’s attorneys.
According to Dominican law, a person can only be detained for 48 hours without charges. It is unclear why Riibe is being kept in the Dominican Republic, but authorities may be concerned about his inconsistent statements and unanswered questions related to Konanki’s disappearance. Riibe has allegedly claimed that he last saw Konanki on the beach after they were both pulled offshore in a strong current, and that he last saw her walking away in knee-deep water before he vomited and fell asleep on a chair. Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to piece together what happened to Konanki and whether Riibe’s involvement holds any significance in the case.
Riibe’s family has expressed concerns about his treatment and the conditions of his detention, leading them to take legal action to ensure his safety and protection of his rights throughout the process. Despite not being named a suspect or charged with a crime, Riibe has been detained at the resort where Konanki disappeared and placed under police surveillance as the search for her continues. The focus remains on finding Konanki and uncovering the truth behind her disappearance, with authorities working to gather evidence and follow leads related to the case.
As the search for Konanki continues, Riibe remains a key witness in the case and has been cooperating with authorities as they work to piece together the events leading up to her disappearance. Legal action has been taken to challenge the legality of Riibe’s detention and address concerns raised by his family about his treatment while in the Dominican Republic. The case remains open as investigators seek to unravel the mystery of what happened to Konanki and determine the extent of Riibe’s involvement in the events surrounding her disappearance.
