Authorities within the Dominican Republic are persevering with to interview the Minnesota school pupil who was with College of Pittsburgh pupil Sudiksha Konanki the night time she went lacking, based on his lawyer.
Almost two weeks after the 20-year-old Konanki vanished, this is a take a look at the timeline of the Punta Cana spring break thriller:
Sudiksha Konanki is seen on this undated picture shared to Meta.
Sudiksha Konanki by way of Meta
March 3
Konanki and her buddies arrived in Punta Cana on March 3.
March 6
Within the early hours of March 6, Konanki was a part of a gaggle that went to a nightclub after which for a stroll on the seaside, three Dominican officers concerned within the investigation instructed ABC Information.
Many of the group went again to the lodge round 5:55 a.m. on March 6. One man — 22-year-old Joshua Riibe, a university senior in Minnesota — stayed with Konanki on the seaside, based on a Dominican Republic investigative police report.
Authorities stated they imagine Konanki died by drowning, officers instructed ABC Information.
Her lacking individuals case is being handled as an accident, sources stated.
Authorities stated Riibe is just not a suspect and is cooperating and being questioned as a witness.
Civil protection boats seek for Sudiksha Konanki, a college pupil from the U.S. who disappeared on a seaside in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, March. 10, 2025.
Francesco Spotorno/AP
March 13
On March 13, when Riibe was interviewed by a prosecutor, he detailed his interactions with the lacking 20-year-old.
Riibe stated he met Konanki that night time and stated they kissed after an evening of ingesting, based on a transcript offered to ABC Information from two Dominican Republic sources.
The 2 went swimming and had been hit by a wave, after which they had been pulled into the ocean by the tide, Riibe instructed the prosecutor.
“After we surfaced, we tried to plead for assist, however there was nobody there,” he stated.
A member of civil protection canine unit searches for Sudiksha Konanki, a college pupil from the U.S. who disappeared on a seaside in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, March. 10, 2025.
Francesco Spotorno/AP
Riibe, who was a pool lifeguard, stated he held Konanki “below my arm and swam to get her out of the water.”
“I used to be attempting to ensure that she might breathe your entire time — that prevented me from respiration your entire time and I took in plenty of water,” he defined.
“After I lastly touched the sand, I put her in entrance of me. Then she received as much as go get her stuff for the reason that ocean had moved us,” Riibe instructed 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 believed she had taken her issues and left.”
“After I noticed her strolling away, whereas she was strolling within the water, I by no means noticed her once more,” he stated.
Riibe stated he handed out on a seaside chair and woke as much as the solar and mosquitoes on him. He was seen on surveillance footage returning to his room a number of hours later.
March 14
Riibe’s dad and mom, Albert and Tina Riibe, launched an announcement on March 14, praising their son’s “integrity and good coronary heart.”
They stated, till March 12, their son was “detained below irregular situations and subjected to intensive questioning with out the presence of official translators or authorized counsel.”
“We acknowledge that it is a complicated and painful scenario for all events concerned, and we belief that the investigation will probably be performed with transparency and justice,” they stated.
“We categorical our deep sorrow and solidarity with the household of Sudiksha Konanski throughout this painful time,” the dad and mom added. “Above all, we want to contribute to the search efforts and perceive the anguish and uncertainty they’re going by way of and we share the hope that Sudiksha will probably be discovered as quickly as doable.”
A drone pilot searches for Sudiksha Konanki, a college pupil from the U.S. who disappeared on a seaside in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, March. 10, 2025.
Francesco Spotorno/AP
March 15
Joshua Riibe was questioned extensively on March 15, together with his legal professionals current, an official near the investigation instructed ABC Information. The 22-year-old additionally went to the seaside with investigators and his legal professionals, the supply stated.
March 17
On March 17, Joshua Riibe’s legal professionals stated they’ve requested a habeas corpus listening to, based on a supply from the Dominican Republic Ministry of Justice.
Joshua Riibe was questioned by prosecutors over three days, and his legal professionals imagine he is being detained illegally and need to stop him from being positioned in custody, an official near the investigation instructed ABC Information. Authorities have confiscated Joshua Riibe’s passport and his attorneys stated he is being surveilled at his lodge.
Within the Dominican Republic, individuals can problem an illegal detention by way of a habeas corpus listening to. Detained people are required to be introduced earlier than a choose inside 48 hours, or they have to be both charged or launched.
ABC Information’ Erielle Reshef contributed to this report.
