A court in the Dominican Republic ruled on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, that Joshua Riibe, a 22-year-old Minnesota college student, had been unlawfully detained at a hotel while assisting authorities in the search for Sudiksha Konanki, a fellow student who disappeared during a spring break vacation earlier this month. This ruling comes after Riibe had been confined to the RIU Hotel & Resort for eight days, reportedly the last person to see Konanki before her disappearance on March 6.
Prior to the court’s decision, Riibe had been under close police supervision. He can now leave the hotel, though his ability to return to the United States remains limited due to the confiscation of his passport. Riibe's local attorneys welcomed the court’s ruling, arguing that he had experienced “irregular treatment” throughout the investigation process.
Riibe recounted the tragic day when he and Konanki, who was in Punta Cana with five fellow students from the University of Pittsburgh, went for an early morning swim. They were reportedly caught in heavy surf. “We kissed before going into the water,” he remembered, adding that he pulled her back to shore after being swept out, but ultimately lost track of her after he became incapacitated from swallowing seawater.
Konanki’s disappearance has been met with significant police response, culminating in a massive search effort involving local police, civilian volunteers, and the FBI. Despite this, her whereabouts continue to remain a mystery. Disturbingly, her parents formally requested Dominican officials to declare their daughter dead on Monday, March 17, a decision that reflects their belief that their daughter has perished in the rough ocean waters.
At the hearing on Tuesday, Dominican prosecutors argued that Riibe's confinement was not illegal, but rather necessary for his protection as a “fact witness.” Despite their assertions, Riibe’s attorneys emphasized that he was effectively detained without any charges. “I really want to go home and see my family,” Riibe told the judge, expressing his desire to return to life as he knew it.
As the investigation unfolds, more evidence into Konanki’s disappearance is being collected. Surveillance footage captured her last known moments at the RIU Resort, where she was seen in the company of friends and Riibe before they ventured to the beach. Reports indicate that prior to their swim, the group enjoyed drinks at the resort bar. Shortly after 4:15 a.m., footage showed them entering the beach, but by just before 5 a.m., Konanki was absent from a group leaving the shore.
Riibe described the harrowing experience of trying to save Konanki. “It took me a long time to get her out,” he said, recalling how the conditions of the ocean significantly complicated their situation. It appeared the waves turned treacherous that fateful morning, leading to the pair being violently swept out to sea.
The search operations have yielded no results. Dominican authorities and multiple agencies have mounted substantial efforts, deploying drones and divers along with ground teams. They discovered Konanki's belongings, including a sarong and flip-flops, on a beach lounger—indicating where she was last seen but providing no further clues to her fate.
Following the earlier mentioned request from Konanki’s family to declare her dead, it has become clear that the situation has taken a devastating toll on them, prompting their call for closure. “It is with deep sadness that we are coming to terms with the fact our daughter has drowned,” stated Subbarayudu Konanki, her father.
Authorities concluded that without substantial evidence of foul play, Konanki likely drowned, prompting the confirmation from both U.S. and Dominican investigators that Riibe was never considered a suspect in the disappearance.
In the midst of these proceedings, Riibe is scheduled for yet another hearing on March 28, 2025. While it is expected he will not attend in person, fears about ongoing restrictions loom, particularly given his father's insistence that he will remain in the Dominican Republic until his son is freed.
Konanki, a promising pre-med student, was described by her father as ambitious and hardworking, with dreams of working in healthcare. Her disappearance has shocked her family and garnered widespread media attention that heightens the plight of her loved ones. The search for answers into her disappearance continues, but the haunting reality is that, as circumstances stand, no trace of her has been found.
Friends and family members of both students remain hopeful for justice and answers, while grappling with the emotional fallout stemming from this tragedy. Each day brings a mix of despair and hope as investigators pursue every angle of this case, stressing that the safety risks during spring breaks in unfamiliar territories warrant a heightened awareness that echoes far beyond this incident.
Sudiksha's story, while a painful chapter in her family’s life, serves as a cautionary tale about the unpredictable nature of life and the seas—calling attention to the dangers inherent in seemingly innocent activities like swimming in unfamiliar waters.
