Joshua Riibe, a Minnesota college student, testified in court that he is “ready to go home and go back to my life” after being held in the Dominican Republic following the disappearance of University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki.
The 22-year-old from Iowa has not been charged with any crime. In court, he recalled how Konanki’s family hugged him and expressed their gratitude.
“Her mother gave me a hug and said, ‘Thank you for saving my daughter the first time,'” Riibe said, calling the situation emotionally difficult.
Riibe was in court for a habeas corpus hearing requested by his lawyers, who argue that he is being detained unlawfully. Prosecutors, however, claim he is only a witness and not under detention.
Despite this, authorities have confiscated his passport, and Riibe stated that police have followed him to meals and watched him eat. His lawyers requested the return of his passport and permission for him to move freely without police surveillance.
“I can’t go anywhere. And I really want to be able to go home, talk to my family, give them hugs, tell them I miss them,” Riibe said. “I understand I’m here to help, but it’s been 10 days and I can’t leave.”
His father has traveled to the Dominican Republic to support him.
“I’m just doing what I can, and at this point, there’s nothing more I can do,” Riibe told the court.
At the end of his court appearance, the judge granted habeas corpus, meaning police can no longer monitor him. However, Dominican authorities have not yet returned his passport.
Riibe’s lawyer, in a statement, thanked the Dominican judiciary for upholding his client’s rights. The judge is expected to decide by March 28 whether Riibe will face any charges or be allowed to leave the country.
Authorities believe 20-year-old Konanki drowned in Punta Cana early on March 6. Her case is being treated as an accident, according to sources.
Riibe, who met Konanki that night, told prosecutors they went swimming and kissed in the ocean. He said a strong wave pulled them into deeper water.
“I was trying to make sure she could breathe, which kept me from breathing, and I swallowed a lot of water,” he said.
Once he reached the shore, he said Konanki walked in the shallow water to retrieve her belongings.
“The last time I saw her, I asked if she was OK. I didn’t hear her response because I started vomiting from all the water I swallowed,” Riibe explained. “After vomiting, I looked around and didn’t see anyone. I thought she had taken her things and left.”
He said he passed out on a beach chair and woke up hours later before returning to his hotel.
On Monday, Konanki’s family formally requested Dominican authorities declare their daughter deceased. They also acknowledged Riibe was cooperating and that no foul play was suspected.
On Tuesday, Dominican Civil Defense officials announced they were scaling back search efforts.