Person of interest in missing Pitt student Sudiksha Konanki case detained under irregular conditions, family says as authorities intensify interrogations
The parents of the Minnesota college student identified as a person of interest in the disappearance of University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki said their son has been detained “under irregular conditions” – as sources said authorities in the Dominican Republic pledged to intensify interrogations.Albert and Tina Riibe are pleading for justice and transparency after learning that their son, Joshua Riibe, 22, who is believed to be the last person to see the missing 20-year-old, has been repeatedly questioned by police, often for long hours, since Konanki vanished on a beach in the Dominican Republic on March 6.“Despite his full willingness to cooperate, Josh has been detained under irregular conditions and subjected to extensive questioning without the presence of official translators or legal counsel until Wednesday, March 12,” the worried parents said in a statement, WTAE reported.“He has remained in his hotel room under police surveillance and has been repeatedly taken to the police station since March 6, where he has been interrogated for long hours.This situation has raised serious concern within his family, which has led us to retain legal counsel to initiate legal actions ensuring his safety and the protection of his rights throughout this process.”Riibe, who was named a person of interest, but not a suspect, is expected to remain detained by local authorities as the search continues – and sources with knowledge of the case indicated Friday that a high-ranking member of the Public Prosecutor’s Office is expected to intensify interrogations.The Iowa resident had traveled to the RIU Hotel & Resort in Punta Cana for spring break – the same five-star resort where Konanki was staying with a group of friends.Surveillance footage of the night Konanki went missing shows her walking with Riibe near the beach around 4:15 a.m.
At one point, the pair can be seen holding hands as Konanki’s spring-break friends from college walk nearby.Ko...