Dominican Attorney General Interrogates Key Witness in Missing American Case at Resort

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic's top prosecutor, Yeni Berenice Reynoso, personally questioned 22-year-old Joshua Riibe, the sole publicly identified eyewitness in the disappearance of 20-year-old Virginia college student Sudiksha Konanki, at his Punta Cana hotel on Saturday. Reynoso reportedly spent hours grilling Riibe in what appears to be an intensified effort to uncover details surrounding the baffling case.

Reynoso’s questioning capped off a week-long investigation involving detectives from multiple agencies, including La Policia Nacional and authorities from Konanki's hometown in Loudoun County, Virginia. While no charges have been filed against Riibe, authorities have described him as a “key element” in the case. His lawyers confirmed Reynoso’s direct involvement, though her office has remained tight-lipped on the matter.

Riibe, who was on spring break with Konanki and other friends at the upscale Riu Republica resort, has faced what his family called "irregular treatment" since Konanki’s disappearance on March 6. According to his parents, Albert and Tina Riibe, their son has endured extensive questioning without proper legal representation or official translators. "Despite his full willingness to cooperate, Josh has been detained under irregular conditions," they said in a statement. His passport has also been confiscated, further heightening tensions.

The timeline of events leading to Konanki’s disappearance remains murky. She was last seen around 4:15 a.m. entering the beach behind the resort with a group of friends, including Riibe. While others returned to the resort, Konanki did not. Riibe himself reportedly came back alone hours later. According to a leaked police transcript, Riibe claims they were swept offshore by strong waves but made it back to land. He alleges he last saw Konanki walking in knee-deep water before he fell asleep on a beach chair, only to wake up and find her gone.

This resort, notably, has a history of tragic incidents; just two months ago, four European tourists drowned nearby. Their bodies were recovered within 48 hours, making the ongoing search for Konanki, which has expanded up the coastline, all the more concerning. The search efforts have included helicopters, boats, dive teams, drones, and even AI technology, but as of now, no trace of Konanki has been found.

Riibe’s parents have reiterated his cooperation with authorities and expressed shared anguish over Konanki’s disappearance. "Above all, we wish to contribute to the search efforts and share the hope that Sudiksha will be found as soon as possible," they said. Meanwhile, U.S. authorities, citing privacy considerations, have refrained from commenting on the specifics of the case but emphasized their commitment to the safety of American citizens abroad.

The pressure on Riibe continues to mount, with investigators now scrutinizing phone records from all involved parties. Whether this will bring clarity to the harrowing situation remains to be seen.