Attorneys for the Minnesota school pupil who was with College of Pittsburgh pupil Sudiksha Konanki the evening she went lacking in Punta Cana have requested a habeas corpus listening to, a supply from the Dominican Republic Ministry of Justice informed ABC Information.
Joshua Riibe — who has not been charged with against the law — has been questioned by prosecutors over three days, an official near the investigation informed ABC Information.
Riibe’s legal professionals consider he is being detained illegally and need to forestall the 22-year-old from being positioned in custody, the supply stated. Authorities have confiscated Riibe’s passport and his attorneys stated he is being surveilled at his resort.
Sudiksha Konanki is seen on this undated photograph shared to Meta.
Sudiksha Konanki by way of Meta
Within the Dominican Republic, folks can problem an illegal detention by a habeas corpus listening to. Detained people are required to be introduced earlier than a decide inside 48 hours, or they have to be both charged or launched.
A ruling on the habeas corpus listening to request can’t forestall an order of arrest by Dominican authorities, in keeping with Riibe’s lawyer and a supply from the Dominican Republic Ministry of Justice.
Authorities stated they consider 20-year-old Konanki died by drowning, officers informed ABC Information.
Her lacking individuals case is being handled as an accident, sources stated. Authorities stated Riibe will not be a suspect and is cooperating and being questioned as a witness.
A member of civil protection canine unit searches for Sudiksha Konanki, a college pupil from the U.S. who disappeared on a seashore in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, March. 10, 2025.
Francesco Spotorno/AP
Konanki was on spring break along with her associates in Punta Cana when she went lacking within the early hours of March 6.
She was a part of a bunch that went to a nightclub after which for a stroll on the seashore, officers concerned within the investigation informed ABC Information.
A lot of the group went again to the resort round 5:55 a.m. after their evening of consuming.
Riibe — who Konanki met that evening — stayed along with her on the seashore, in keeping with a Dominican Republic investigative police report.
Riibe informed the prosecutor the 2 went swimming and kissed. He stated then they have been hit by a wave and pulled into the ocean by the tide, in keeping with a transcript supplied to ABC Information from two Dominican Republic sources.
Riibe stated he held Konanki and tried to get them out of the water.
“I used to be making an attempt to ensure that she might breathe the whole time — that prevented me from respiration the whole time and I took in quite a lot of water,” he stated.
“Once I lastly touched the sand, I put her in entrance of me. Then she obtained as much as go get her stuff for the reason that ocean had moved us,” Riibe informed the prosecutor. “She was not out of the water because it was as much as her knee. She was strolling at an angle within the water.”
“The final time I noticed her, I requested her if she was OK. I did not hear her response as a result of I started to vomit with all of the water I had swallowed,” he stated. “After vomiting, I appeared round and I did not see anybody. I assumed she had taken her issues and left.”
Riibe stated he handed out on a seashore chair and wakened hours later and returned to his resort room.
ABC Information’ Ellie Kaufman contributed to this report.
