PUNTA CANA — A never-before-seen photo shows the person of interest in the disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki being questioned by authorities at a Dominican Republic police station.
Joshua Riibe, 22, wore a colorful short-sleeve button down shirt while he stared at the camera in a picture that was obtained by El Diario Libre newspaper.
The release of the shocking picture comes as Riibe is fighting for his freedom after having his passport confiscated in the Dominican Republic.
(PHOTO CREDIT: El Diario Libre)
The outlet reports that authorities have also been analyzing the surveillance camera systems of hotels near the Riu Republica Hotel as part of the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of the 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh junior.
Riibe’s attorneys filed a writ of habeas corpus with a court in the province of La Altagracia, demanding to go before a judge to challenge his detention.
A hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday.
It was initially reported that Riibe was going to visit the Attorney General’s Office in Higuey to be interviewed by Claudia Garrido, the interim prosecutor for the province of La Altagracia.
However, Noticias SIN outlet indicated that Garrido would question the St. Cloud State University student at the hotel, where he is holed up.
Joshua Riibe is seen being questioned by authorities in Punta Cana. The 22-year-old has had his passport confiscated, but is yet to be named a suspect
Riibe has not been charged, nor has he been formally named a suspect in Sudiksha’s disappearance.
But his confusing and contradicting statements to police about what happened on the night Konanki vanished have led to raised eyebrows.
Riibe was the last person to be seen with Sudiksha shortly before 5am on March 6th. They had gone to the beach after a night of drinking with friends.
He told police that the pair went for a swim and were knocked out by a large wave. He claimed he used his lifeguard training to drag her back towards the shore, but that the last time he saw her she was waist deep in water.
New footage Sudiksha Konanki in the hotel lobby hours before she vanished. The missing Pittsburgh student hasn’t been seen since the morning of March 6
He managed to get out and passed out on a sun bed, he said. Sudiksha was never seen again.
Experts say the story is unlikely and that her body would have washed up by now if she’d drowned.
In a statement to NBC overnight, Riibe said: “I’m just trying to help them out. The ocean is a dangerous place.”
“The Rock Rapids community stands behind and supports Joshua Riibe and his family,” the statement said. “The Riibe family moved to town in 2015 and has been active in various school and community events and organizations.”
“They are well known and loved.”
Surveillance video footage obtained by Dominican Republic news outlet Noticias SIN showed Joshua Riibe (left) and Sudiksha Konanki (second from left) following their friends to the beach at the Riu Republica Hotel before Konanki disappeared March 6
The statement, which was released by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office on behalf of the family’s friends, described Riibe as being devoted to “his faith” and always “showing kindness to others.”
“He exemplifies the values of compassion, respect and integrity that are fundamental to our church and our community.”
Surveillance camera footage from the all-inclusive five-star hotel showed both Riibe and Konanki vomiting at a bar at 4:05 am on March 6 before they walked to the beach.
A second camera spotted Riibe holding a cup and placing his arm around Konanki back as they trailed the group at 4:15 am. At about 4:55 a.m, the hotel security camera system showed two of her friends returning to the hotel.
The same camera picked up another female friend accompanied by Johnson walking into the building at 5:05 a.m.
Surveillance footage appears to show Joshua Riibe and Sudiksha Konanki each vomiting in the bar before they headed to the beach on March 6.
The surveillance camera would show Riibe, barefoot and shirtless, as he slowly walked back to his room at 8:54a.m. with Konanki nowhere in sight.
Riibe was peppered with over 50 questions last Wednesday and told a prosecutor that he and Konanki had kissed in the ocean before they almost got swept away by a wave.
He also said he saved her from drowning while almost losing consciousness.
But under the guidance of his attorneys, Riibe refused to reply to several questions, with the prosecutor probing him over how they could be sure what he was saying was truthful.
Riibe was also questioned if he knew if Sudiksha was able to swim, if she made any gestures or cries in the sea, if he called the cops or told the hotel, if he had told his friends about what happened and was also asked how he felt about the situation.
Each time he replied: “My lawyers advise me not to answer that question and I follow their advice,” before going silent.
By ADRY TORRES/Daily Mail
