Hereâs the latest on this evolving story:
đ° American Last Seen with Missing Sudiksha Konanki Detained at Airport Amid Fatherâs “Lawyer” Demand
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico / MarchâŻ19,âŻ2025 â Joshua Riibe, the 22-year-old American who was the last person seen with 20âyearâold University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki, faced questioning at Luis Muñoz MarĂn International Airport on Wednesday evening, as he attempted to transit through Puerto Rico on his way back to the U.S. Riibe had been under virtual detention in the Dominican Republic since Sudikshaâs disappearance on March 6, with authorities confiscating his passport and phone .
Footage captured at the airport shows Riibeâs father, Albert, desperately calling through the terminal doors: âGet me a lawyer!â He can be heard shouting at airport officials as his son is grilled by U.S. Immigration authoritiesâfrustrated that Riibe was facing further questioning despite already being released from Dominican custody .
Timeline & Core Developments
MarchâŻ6: Sudiksha Konanki, 20, vanishes during an early-morning beach outing at Punta Canaâs Riu RepĂșblica Resort. Joshua Riibe, a senior from St.âŻCloud State University and a former lifeguard, was the last individual seen with her .
Authorities in the Dominican Republic ruled it a drowning, citing strong currents and the fact that no foul play evidence was found .
The Loudoun County Sheriffâs Office (Virginia) joined the investigation and expressed concern over limited access to cellphone data and full video footage .
By MarchâŻ18, Riibeâs lawyers had pursued and won a habeas corpus petition. Court documents confirmed he had been âunlawfully detainedâ beyond the 48âhour constitutional limit in the Dominican Republic. He secured a new U.S. passport and prepared to depart .
As Riibe and his father passed through Puerto Rico on MarchâŻ19, additional U.S. authorities briefly questioned him. His fatherâs emotional plea for a lawyer underscores tensions over procedural fairness before returning home .
Statements & Aftermath
Legal filings and Dominican officials state there is no suspect in the caseâRiibe is considered a witness .
Sudikshaâs parents have formally requested a death declaration, believing she likely drowned. But under Dominican law, confirmation by a forensic expert and a body recovered is requiredâprocedures still underway .
The Loudoun County Sheriffâs Office continues to press for more transparency in evidence-sharing from Dominican authorities .
What Comes Next?
1. Processing in Puerto Rico / U.S. Customs
Though legally in the clear under Dominican law, U.S. authorities must ensure no outstanding immigration or criminal flags remain before Riibe resumes his journey home.
2. Dominican Investigation
Authorities have officially closed the case as drowning, yet sheriffs in Virginia are urging for full access to video and phone records to confirm there was no foul play .
3. Legal Declaration of Death
Sudikshaâs family awaits forensic evidence (e.g., body recovery) to fulfill Dominican legal requirements for declaring her legally deadâa move they say will help with closure .
Bottom line: The emotional scene at the Puerto Rican airportâwhere a father demanded âlawyerâ as his son was pulled asideâhighlights the high stakes of international legal coordination. With Riibe now back in the U.S., scrutiny is mounting on both the thoroughness of the Dominican investigation and the pace at which diplomatic channels are working to share critical evidence.
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