Missing American in Dominican Republic: Judge makes ruling in last person believed to see student alive

A justice successful the Dominican Republic has officially ruled to adjacent the lawsuit of the cardinal witnesser successful the outpouring interruption disappearance of the University of Pittsburgh pupil Sudikasha Konanki.

On Friday, Judge Edwin Rijo issued the afloat written condemnation detailing the ineligible reasoning down his determination to assistance the habeas corpus question filed connected behalf of 22-year-old Joshua Steven Ribe, officially concluding the lawsuit against him.

The elaborate judgement does not represent a caller decision, the connection read, arsenic the archetypal ruling, announced astatine the decision of the proceeding connected March 17, was instantly valid and enforceable.

A Dominican Republic justice ruled successful favour of Riibe’s writ of habeas corpus, giving him the quality to determination freely wrong the state until his March 28 hearing. 

MISSING AMERICAN IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: KEY WITNESS JOSHUA RIIBE LEAVES COUNTRY

Joshua Riibe arrives astatine a Dominican Republic courthouse alongside his father, Albert Riibe, connected Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Riibe is simply a cardinal witnesser successful the disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki, an American assemblage pupil who went missing portion swimming connected a Punta Cana formation connected March 6. (Fox News Digital)

Riibe had been holed up successful the Riu Republica nether strict constabulary monitoring for 11 days earlier a justice ruled the concern violated Dominican law. His restrictions besides included having his cellphone and passport confiscated.

Riibe's attorneys successfully argued successful tribunal that, arsenic a witness, not a suspect, constabulary power implicit his movements implicit an 11-day span was unlawful.

"On March 18th, pursuing the decision of the habeas corpus proceeding that ordered the merchandise of our client, Joshua Riib, the Prosecutor's Office of La Altagracia informed him of their readiness to instrumentality his passport," Riibe's attorneys said. "While Joshua appreciated this decision, helium chose, for privateness reasons, to use for a caller passport astatine the U.S. Consulate, which was promptly issued.

Riibe is believed to beryllium 1 of the past radical who saw Konanki, 20, earlier she vanished successful the aboriginal greeting hours of March 6 from the formation down their resort, the Riu Republica successful Punta Cana.

MISSING AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENT SEEN IN NEW HOTEL SECURITY FOOTAGE BEFORE DISAPPEARANCE

Sudiksha Konanki, 20, from bluish Virginia, was archetypal reported missing connected Thursday, March 6, aft disappearing from a formation successful the Dominican Republic.  (Handout, left, and Defensa Civil Dominicana, right.)

Surveillance video shows helium and Konanki went to the formation with a radical astir 4:15 a.m., the greeting she vanished. Most of them were seen leaving astir 6 a.m. Riibe and Konanki remained connected the beach. Riibe came backmost by himself hours later, and Konanki's whereabouts stay chartless astir 2 weeks later.

According to a leaked transcript of an interrogation with police, Riibe told investigators helium and Konanki were some pulled distant from the enactment by a beardown current, and they struggled to marque it back. He past saw her walking successful knee-deep h2o earlier helium vomited and fell dormant connected a formation chair.

AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENT SUDIKSHA KONANKI’S DISAPPEARANCE IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: TIMELINE

Sudiksha Konanki's parents talk retired aft her daughter's death. (FOX 5 DC)

Her parents, successful a missive to Dominican authorities, asked for her to beryllium declared dormant connected Monday, March 17, citing the deficiency of grounds of foul play and Riibe's continued practice with investigators.

"Our steadfast remains committed to upholding owed process and the law guarantees established nether Article 69 of our Constitution," a typical from Guzmán Ariza shared successful a property release. "This ruling reinforces these cardinal principles and strengthens assurance successful the justness strategy of the Dominican Republic."

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"This favorable result was achieved done the dedication and tireless efforts of our ineligible team. Guzmán Ariza remains steadfast successful its committedness to defending the regularisation of law, ensuring nationals and overseas citizens alike tin spot successful the extortion of their cardinal rights successful the Dominican Republic."

Fox News Digital's Michael Ruiz, Greg Wehner, Mara Robles, and Bryan Llenas contributed to this report. 

Stepheny Price is simply a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, nationalist transgression cases, amerciable immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas tin beryllium sent to [email protected]