Judge makes decision in missing student case
In this DML Report…
Joshua Riibe, a 22-year-old Minnesota student, was detained in the Dominican Republic after University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki vanished from a beach on March 6, 2025. Believed to be the last person with her, Riibe was held under de facto house arrest at a Punta Cana resort, his passport seized, despite no formal charges.
On March 18, 2025, a judge in Higüey ruled Riibe should be free to "live his normal life," rejecting his detention without charges. His lawyer argued he was a victim, swept out to sea with Konanki but surviving, though his passport’s return remains unresolved.
(see video below)
Konanki’s parents believe she drowned and support Riibe’s release, while the investigation into her disappearance continues. The Dominican prosecutor is unsure who holds Riibe’s passport, delaying his departure as authorities probe whether her death was accidental or suspicious.