Sudiksha Konanki appears in an undated photo on her TikTok profile. She was last seen March 6 at a resort beach in Punta Cana. (@sudikshakonanki/TikTok)
The top prosecutor in the Dominican Republic personally questioned Joshua Riibe Saturday, the last known person seen with missing Virginia college student Sudiksha Konanki, as authorities intensify their investigation into her disappearance.
Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso spent hours Saturday interviewing Riibe, 22, of Iowa, in his Punta Cana hotel room, according to his attorneys.
The interrogation follows multiple interviews with local police and Loudoun County, Virginia, investigators throughout the past week.
Riibe, a senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, was on spring break at the Riu República resort with friends, including Konanki, 20, a University of Pittsburgh student from Loudoun County. She vanished early March 6 after being seen on the beach with Riibe.
Authorities seize Joshua Riibe’s passport, call him a ‘key element’
While Riibe has not been named a suspect or charged with a crime, authorities have labeled him a “key element” in the case. Dominican officials confiscated his passport several days ago when he attempted to check out of the hotel.
Riibe’s parents, Albert and Tina Riibe, have criticized the treatment of their son, saying he has been subjected to “irregular conditions” and repeated questioning without legal counsel or official translators for days.
“He has remained in his hotel room under police surveillance and has been repeatedly taken to the police station since March 6,” the family said in a statement through their attorneys.
Conflicting accounts of Sudiksha Konanki’s disappearance
Investigators are scrutinizing conflicting statements Riibe has given about Konanki’s disappearance.
According to a leaked police transcript obtained by Fox News, Riibe initially claimed they were swept offshore by a strong wave, but he managed to bring Konanki back to land. He said he then last saw her walking away in knee-deep water toward her belongings.
In another version, Riibe reportedly said he fell ill and passed out on a beach chair while Konanki was still in the water.
Surveillance footage confirms that six of the friends left the beach around 6 a.m., while Riibe returned alone just before 10 a.m. Konanki’s friends reported her missing at 4 p.m. that day.
Search in Dominican Republic intensifies
Authorities have launched an extensive search effort along the coastline using boats, planes, helicopters, dive teams, K9 units, and AI-equipped drones.
Konanki’s disappearance comes two months after four European tourists drowned at the same resort.
Their bodies were recovered within 48 hours.
U.S. authorities, including the State Department, are monitoring the case but have not commented publicly due to privacy concerns.
Riibe’s family expresses concern
What they’re saying:
Riibe’s parents said their son is fully cooperating and deeply dismayed by Konanki’s disappearance.
“Above all, we wish to contribute to the search efforts,” they said Friday. “Joshua is deeply dismayed by her disappearance and has fully cooperated from the very beginning.”
Authorities are also examining phone records from Konanki and other witnesses. The investigation remains active.
Search continues for college student who went missing in DR
The search continues for Sudiksha Konanki, the Virginia college student who went missing while on a trip to the Dominican Republic. Two members of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office are on the ground in the Dominican Republic, assisting investigators.
The Source: FOX News Digital