The final particular person to see lacking College of Pittsburgh scholar Sudiksha Konanki alive is now free to return dwelling, a choose within the Dominican Republic dominated Tuesday.
“Joshua Riibe is free to go away,” the choose declared following a listening to that lasted a number of hours and hours extra deliberation..
Riibe, 22, wearing black and searching matted, was mobbed by TV cameras as he appeared for the court docket listening to on his bid to be launched to return dwelling after being recognized as an individual of curiosity within the March 6 disappearance of 20-year-old coed Sudiksha Konaki.
“I actually need to have the ability to go dwelling, discuss to my household, give them hugs, inform them I miss them,” Riibe instructed Decide Elvis Delgado in the course of the heated closed-door listening to, in response to Noticias SIN. “I perceive I’m right here to assist, however it’s been 10 days and I can’t depart.”
Riibe has not been charged with wrongdoing and has he been recognized as a suspect in Konanki’s disappearance, however stays on the island after his passport was seized.
The ruling to launch him got here after Konanki’s mother and father mentioned they now consider that she drowned within the tough surf off Punta Cana and that Riibe wasn’t concerned in her loss of life.
“Either side of the authorities have proven us how excessive the ocean waves had been on the time of the incident, and each side of the authorities have clarified the particular person of curiosity was not a suspect from the start,” her father Subbarayudu instructed The Submit. “It’s with deep disappointment and a heavy coronary heart that we’re coming to phrases with the very fact our daughter has drowned.”
The ruling to launch Riibe got here after legal professionals for each side sparred bitterly over the circumstances Riibe’s presence within the Dominican Republic, with legal professionals for the federal government saying he was by no means a suspect, however a witness within the mysterious disappearance.
“Sufficient,” his father, Albert Riibe, instructed the choose. “It’s been 12 days.”
Legal professionals for the Dominican authorities denied Riibe was being “detained,” and was solely a witness within the case – and mentioned he voluntarily turned his passport over to authorities.
They mentioned he was by no means “interrogated” by police, solely “interviewed,” the outlet mentioned.
However the choose didn’t purchase the federal government’s argument, granting his request and liberating him to return dwelling to Iowa.
Authorities revealed {that a} good friend who was with Riibe on the resort, Carter Joseph, additionally stays within the Dominican Republican however didn’t say if he’s held in opposition to his will and might now go dwelling.
Riibe was amongst greater than 50 folks interviewed within the case, officers mentioned.
A scholar at St. Cloud State School in Minnesota, he instructed police he and Konanki, who was on spring break along with her associates, went for an early morning swim at RIU Resort & Resort in Punta Cana after they had been caught in tough surf – however mentioned he introduced her safely to shore earlier than passing out on the seashore.
Dominican police initially mentioned they believed that Konanki drowned however didn’t rule out foul play – and described Riibe as an individual of curiosity and seized his passport whereas an enormous search was launched for the Konanki that included FBI and US Division of Homeland Safety personnel.
On Monday, Riibe’s lawyer, Beatriz Santana, filed the writ of habeas corpus – a authorized demand that the Iowan be launched as a result of he has not been charged with wrongdoing, which prompted Tuesday’s court docket listening to.
In the meantime Konanki’s mother and father on Monday submitted a shifting letter asking that their daughter be formally declared useless..
The letter from Subbarayudu and SreeDevi Konanki additionally requested that Riibe be allowed to return dwelling.
Riibe testified in court docket Tuesday that he met with SrereDevi Konanki on the island, and that she instructed him, “Thanks for saving my daughter the primary time.”
Sudiksha Konanki’s disappearance captivated the world, with worldwide media reporting on the prolonged seek for her.
The younger scholar from Virginia arrived on the Punta Cana resort on spring break along with her associates on March 3.
Safety cameras captured her and Riibe on the resort bar hours earlier than her disappearance, with the pair probably each seen throwing up.
The group later was caught on video strolling out to the seashore, the place Riibe and Konanki are seen holding fingers and arm-in-arm taking a selfie.
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