PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic – The situation around the disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student, has taken a serious turn. Lawyers representing a Minnesota college student, Joshua Riibe, who was with Konanki the night she went missing, are calling for a habeas corpus hearing. This legal move comes after Riibe was questioned by Dominican prosecutors over three days.
Riibe, who has not been charged with any crime, is believed by his lawyers to be held illegally. His passport has been taken, and they claim he is under surveillance at his hotel. In the Dominican Republic, habeas corpus allows detained individuals to contest unlawful imprisonment. A judge must see detainees within 48 hours; otherwise, they must be released or formally charged.
Authorities are currently investigating the case as an accident, believing that the 20-year-old Konanki likely drowned. Riibe is not a suspect; he is cooperating with investigators and has been questioned as a witness. However, officials are looking closely at the details of his account, especially given new surveillance footage showing both Riibe and Konanki appearing unwell the night before her disappearance.
Konanki was vacationing with friends when she went missing during the early hours of March 6. Reports indicate that she and her friends had spent time at a nightclub before walking along the beach. Many in the group returned to their hotel, but Riibe chose to stay with Konanki on the beach. He has said they went swimming together but got caught in a strong wave that pulled them into deeper water.
Riibe described a harrowing struggle to keep Konanki afloat while he took in water himself. He last saw her when she stood up to retrieve her belongings, saying he believed she had left after he became ill. Moments later, he fell asleep on a beach chair and woke up hours later to find her missing.
Police have confirmed that items belonging to Konanki were found on the beach, and they have video footage of Riibe returning to his hotel room that morning.
This incident highlights the risks associated with vacationing in unfamiliar places, especially for young travelers. According to a national survey by the US Travel Association, 72% of Americans often feel anxious about safety while traveling. This case reminds us all to stay vigilant, prioritize safety, and always have a plan in unfamiliar settings.
Riibe is scheduled for further questioning soon, and his family has expressed their condolences to Konanki’s family, sharing in the grief of this heart-wrenching situation.
For ongoing updates on the investigation, follow trusted news sources such as ABC News.
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