SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Joshua Riibe believes he is being unlawfully detained in his Dominican Republic hotel room as the investigation into a missing college student unfolds.
Riibe, 22, from Rock Rapids, Iowa is believed to be the last person who saw University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki alive on the morning of March 6. Riibe is considered a person of interest in the case, but is not a suspect and not under criminal investigation at this time.
Riibe’s lawyers filed a habeas corpus petition against the Riu Hotel where he has been kept in his hotel room under police supervision since March 6, as well as multiple Dominican law enforcement and prosecutor agencies, according to Dominican media outlet Noticias SIN.
A writ of habeas corpus is a constitutional action or court order demanding a person go before a judge to determine if they are being arbitrarily or unlawfully detained.
Riibe’s hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 2 p.m. local Dominican time. Noticias SIN said media were ordered to be brought into the hallway for a closed hearing.
Konanki, 20, is a junior at the University of Pittsburgh and was on spring break with her friends in Punta Cana at a resort. Surveillance video shows her and five other University of Pittsburgh students and Riibe heading to the beach around 5 a.m.
The Rock Rapids native told police the two were in the water when a wave swept them out to sea. He said he tried saving Konanki from drowning. They made it back to the beach, but he was unable to keep helping her due to his own exhaustion.
“The last time I saw her, I asked if she was okay,” Riibe told prosecutors, according to court documents. KELOLAND News translated his statements in a previous story.
On Monday, Fox News obtained a letter from Konanki’s parents to the Dominican police asking for their daughter to be declared dead.
In their letter, they thanked law enforcement for their efforts and said Riibe is cooperating with the investigation.
“No evidence of foul play has been found,” the Konanki’s letter said.
Riibe’s parents, Albert and Tina Riibe, issued a statement on social media over the weekend.
They said Josh is “deeply dismayed” by Konanki’s disappearance. Despite his cooperation, they say Josh has been “detained under irregular conditions and subjected to extensive questioning without the presence of official translators or legal counsel” until a week into the investigation.
Friends and family of Riibe have also shown their support for him back in Rock Rapids. The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office posted a statement Sunday evening signed by the Friends of the Joshua Riibe Family.
“Josh has an unwavering devotion to his faith and a genuine kindness towards others,” it read. “He exemplifies the values of compassion, respect and integrity that are fundamental to our church and our community.”
The letter also said Riibe has been focusing his efforts to help find Konanki in the Dominican.
The Riibe’s moved to Rock Rapids in 2015. He graduated from Central Lyon High School in 2021 where he wrestled and played football. Riibe qualified for state wrestling in 2020 and 2021.
Riibe is currently a senior at St. Cloud State University studying land surveying.
