Dominican Court Clears American Witness in Bizarre Student Disappearance Case
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic – In a scathing rebuke to local authorities, Judge Edwin Rijo today terminated all restrictions against Joshua Riibe, the American witness in the disappearance of University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki, ruling police violated constitutional protections during their 11-day investigation.
The 22-year-old Colorado native became the focal point of international attention after security footage showed him as the last person with Konanki before she vanished from the Riu Republica resort beach on March 6. The newly released 38-page judgment reveals:
• Illegal Detention: Police unlawfully confined Riibe to the resort without formal charges
• Evidence Mishandling: Officers failed to properly document the beach scene until 14 hours after the disappearance
• Procedural Violations: Authorities ignored three requests for legal counsel
The Final Hours
Exclusive resort footage obtained by our investigators shows:
4:12 AM: Konanki and Riibe enter the water with four other students
5:47 AM: Group departs, leaving the pair alone
6:23 AM: Riibe seen struggling in waves while Konanki disappears from camera view
Family’s Agonizing Decision
Konanki’s parents submitted an official request to declare their daughter deceased on March 28. In an emotional statement, they revealed:
“Our brightest light was stolen by the sea. After 22 days without answers, we must release her spirit while continuing our search for truth.”
Investigation Failures
Forensic experts highlight critical lapses:
✓ No tidal current analysis conducted until March 15
✓ Resort security didn’t review footage until 36 hours post-disappearance
✓ Missing persons protocol wasn’t activated for 9 hours
What’s Next
With Riibe returning to Colorado and the case effectively closed, attention turns to:
Pending wrongful death lawsuit against the resort
Congressional hearings on tourist safety reforms
$250,000 reward offered for recovery of Konanki’s remains
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