PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic– A vital witness about American university student Sudiksha Konanki’s loss informed Dominican Republic authorities that he and the 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh trainee were swimming when a large wave struck them, and they were brushed up away, according to a translation of a records shownFox News
Joshua Riibe of Iowa finished an almost four-hour meeting on Wednesday with Dominican Republic authorities as a witness about Konanki’s loss and responded to greater than 50 inquiries regarding what occurred prior to she disappeared on March 6. Riibe is being taken into consideration by Dominican authorities as a witness in case, not as an individual of passion or suspect.
Riibe presumably rejected to address 8 inquiries, including his ideas on the loss and why he did not inform the resort or authorities regarding the case. Police have actually stated there are no suspects and this is a missing out on individual instance, not a criminal instance. Riibe, 24, informed authorities that he satisfied Konanki that evening, as they were both remaining at the RIU Republica hotel for springtime break.
Riibe’s attorney, Beatriz Santana, decreased to discuss the instance or her customer’s meetings with authorities. Riibe’s household likewise released a declaration, stating, “At this point in time, Our Family is going through a very difficult time right now, and we’re experiencing a lot of sadness and pain. We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate this challenging moment together… We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.”
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT VANISHES IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: TIMELINE
Sudiksha Konanki, 20, from north Virginia, was initially reported missing on Thursday, March 6, after vanishing from a coastline in theDominican Republic (Handout, left, and Defensa Civil Dominicana, right.)
“At this point in time, Our Family is going through a very difficult time right now, and we’re experiencing a lot of sadness and pain. We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate this challenging moment together… We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.”
In the morning hours of March 6, they strolled from a resort bar to the coastline outside the RIURepublica Konanki had actually shown up in Punta Cana on March 3 and had actually been remaining there with 5 various other women close friends from the University ofPittsburgh Riibe shown up on March 1.
“On the way to the beach, she was giving me small kisses on the face,” Riibe informed authorities, according to an equated records.
On the coastline, he and Konanki entered the water while 2 of her women close friends remained onto land. Riibe and Konanki were speaking when a “big wave” struck them, Riibe stated. There was a red-flag advising on the coastline at the time, suggesting a caution for individuals not to go swimming in harsh browse.
MISSING OUT ON AMERICAN IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: NO SUSPECTS AS LOOK FOR SUDIKSHA KONANKI GETS TO ONE WEEK
People appreciate time on the coastline at the RIURepublica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Konanki, 20, was last seen on March 6 on a coastline outside the luxury RIU Republica Resort in the Dominican Republic. (Santiago Baez for Fox News Digital)
“[W]ith the water’s pullback, it dragged us further into the sea,” he stated. “As soon as we surfaced, we tried to call for help, but no one was there.”
When asked what occurred following, Riibe stated he was “getting tired” and “realized she was also getting tired of swimming.”
“I have been a lifeguard, so I grabbed her and started pulling her out. I was holding her under the arm and swimming to get her out of the water.”
“It took me a long time to get her out. It was difficult,” Riibe proceeded. “I was a lifeguard in a pool, not in the ocean. I was trying to keep her breathing the whole time, which didn’t allow me to breathe properly, and I swallowed a lot of water. I could have lost consciousness at some point. When I finally touched the sand on the shore, I put her in front of me. Then she went to collect her belongings because the ocean had moved them.”
Local authorities look for missing out on United States trainee Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, March 11, 2025. Konanki, 20, was last seen on a coastline outside the luxury RIU Republica Resort in the Dominican Republic on March 6, 2025. (Santiago Baez for Fox News Digital)
Riibe stated Konanki was strolling “knee-deep” in the water when he last saw her.
“I asked if she was okay. I didn’t hear her response because I started vomiting all the seawater I had swallowed,” Riibe stated. “After vomiting, I looked around and didn’t see anyone. I thought she had grabbed her things and left. I felt really bad and exhausted. I lay down on a beach chair, fell asleep because I couldn’t go very far, and later woke up because of the sun and mosquito bites. I went to my friend’s room to get my phone, then went to my own room to sleep.”
RESORT SCARY TALES ARISE AFTER AMERICAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT GOES MISSING OUT ON AS HOTEL FIRMLY INSISTS NO LINK
Local authorities look for missing out on United States trainee Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Konanki, 20, was last seen on March 6 on a coastline outside the luxury RIU Republica Resort in the Dominican Republic. (Santiago Baez for Fox News Digital)
Riibe likewise informed authorities he “expected to see her the next day” and believed he would certainly “run into her around the area.”
“After I saw her walking away in the water, I never saw her again.”
Riibe stated he was oversleeping his area when his close friend asked him if he had actually seen Konanki, to which Riibe responded no.
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT MISSING IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC DIDN’T SINK, NATALEE HOLLOWAY PRIVATE DETECTIVE THINKS
Sudiksha Konanki in a Facebook selfie picture. The 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh junior has actually been missing out on considering that March 6, when she disappeared throughout a springtime break journey to a luxury hotel in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. (Sudiksha Konanki/Facebook)
“I thought she had gone to her room. Her friends texted my friend since he had one of their numbers,” Riibe stated.
The Iowa guy stated his close friends mosted likely to the coastline the following day and located his “belongings” since he “never picked them up,” aside from a set of footwear and an area secret that he stated “someone had stolen.”
Exterior sight of a police headquarters at Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. (Kirill Clark)
Riibe informed authorities he had actually been consuming alcohol vodka with 7Up and tequila shots, including that the team of females he had actually been with acquired “pink tequila shots” that they consumed en masse.
He did not address 8 inquiries on the guidance of his lawyers, according to the records, consisting of the following:
1. How can we confirm that every little thing you have stated holds true?
2. What did you inform your close friend when he inquired about the missing out on woman, Konanki-Sudiksha?
3. What do you consider Sudiksha’s loss?
4. Did Sudiksha understand exactly how to swim or otherwise?
5. Do you bear in mind if Sudiksha made any type of motions or shouted while in the sea?
6. Did you notify the authorities or the resort regarding what occurred with you and the woman on the coastline?
7. Did you inform your close friend what occurred in between you and the woman on the coastline?
8. How do you really feel around this scenario?
Beach loungers remain on the sand by the sea at the RIU Republica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Konanki, 20, was last seen on March 6 on a coastline outside the luxury RIU Republica Resort in the Dominican Republic. (Santiago Baez for Fox News Digital)
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, where Konanki lives, has actually stated Riibe “is not a person of interest nor a suspect for purposes of a criminal investigation. This was initiated as and is still a missing person investigation, and for that purpose he is a person of interest to our agency.”
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office informed Fox News Digital on Friday it talked to Riibe on Thursday.
“Detectives from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) conducted an extensive interview with Mr. Joshua Riibe on Thursday afternoon, March 13, 2025. His father and attorney accompanied Mr. Riibe, and he was cooperative. The search and investigation by the Dominican National Police are continuing. The LCSO does not plan to have any further updates today,” a speaker stated.
Riibe’s household stated in a declaration: “At this point in time, Our Family is going through a very difficult time right now, and we’re experiencing a lot of sadness and pain. We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate this challenging moment together… We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.”
Military workers look for Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh trainee from the united state that vanished on a coastline in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Monday, March 10, 2025. ( AP Photo/Francesco Spotorno)
In January, 4 vacationers sank near Punta Cana, when a warning advised of solid currents and harsh seas, according to The Associated Press.
Konanki was last seen on monitoring video footage strolling from RIU Republica to the coastline with 7 other individuals, consisting of 5 ladies and 2 men, around 4:15 a.m. on March 6. She was last seen on the coastline around 4:50 a.m., according to the Dominican Republic district attorney’s workplace and the resort.
Hotel monitoring video footage after that reveals a team of 6 individuals, consisting of 5 females and one guy, going back to the resort from the coastline around 5:55 a.m.
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The boy formerly seen with Konanki is seen on monitoring video footage going into the inside of the resort around 9 a.m. on March 6.
Authorities are asking anybody with info to call the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office at 703-777-1021. To stay confidential, call the Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919.
