Final Individual to See Sudiksha Konanki Alive May Return to U.S.: Police

• Joshua Riibe, 22 — who’s regarded as the final individual to have seen lacking school pupil Sudiksha Konanki, 20, alive within the Dominican Republic — is now not a “individual of curiosity” and will “return to the U.S. as early as right now,” a Loudoun County Sheriff’s Workplace spokesperson informed PEOPLE on Wednesday, March 19
• Konanki hasn’t been seen since she went for an early morning seaside stroll whereas on a spring break journey within the nation with associates on Thursday, March 6
• On Tuesday, March 18, a Dominican decide dominated that Riibe was now not below police supervision, per stories

The person thought to have been the final individual to see lacking 20-year-old school pupil Sudiksha Konanki alive is now not a “individual of curiosity” and will “return to the U.S. as early as right now,” authorities confirmed to PEOPLE in an electronic mail on Wednesday, March 19.

College of Pittsburgh junior Konanki — a resident of Virginia’s Loudoun County — was final seen within the early hours of the morning on Thursday, March 6, whereas strolling on a seaside at Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana within the Dominican Republic.

Loudoun County Sheriff’s Workplace (LCSO) spokesperson Thomas Julia confirmed to PEOPLE on March 12 that Riibe, 22, was a “individual of curiosity in what continues to be a lacking individual investigation.” Regardless of him being questioned, he has not been accused or charged with any crime.

LCSO’s Julia then informed PEOPLE through electronic mail on Wednesday, March 19, “It’s [our] understanding that the DR [Dominican Republic] is letting him return to the usas early as right now,” including that they didn’t know the standing of his passport.

“Our company now not considers him an individual of curiosity as our detectives accomplished an interview with him final Thursday and he was absolutely cooperative,” Julia added to PEOPLE.

Noticias SIN, a Dominican outlet, reported on Monday that Riibe’s attorneys had filed a habeas corpus petition in a bid to have him launched as authorities within the nation continued to carry him following Konanki’s disappearance. 

Riibe, who’s a senior at St. Cloud State College in Minnesota, had been saved in a lodge room and never permitted to depart with out supervision, NBC Information reported. 

“He’s a witness. He’s cooperated and retains cooperating,” Justice of the Peace Edwis Rijo Delgado informed the courtroom on Tuesday, per the outlet.

Riibe informed the listening to that Konanki’s household had thanked him for his cooperation. “Her mom gave me a hug and mentioned, ‘Thanks for saving my daughter the primary time.’ It was actually powerful,” the scholar mentioned, based on ABC Information.

Riibe had beforehand informed police that he and Konanki had gone swimming on the evening of her disappearance and so they’d been swept out into the ocean by a big wave amid tough circumstances, per CBS Information, citing a supply with direct information of Riibe’s statements to U.S. investigators. Riibe reportedly mentioned he believed Konanki had gotten out of the water.

“The final time I noticed her, I requested if she was OK. I didn’t hear her reply,” he informed investigators. “I appeared round and didn’t see anybody. I assumed she’d grabbed her issues and left,” per an interview transcript obtained and translated by NBC Information.

Riibe’s legal professionals had beforehand advised he was being detained illegally, however prosecutors mentioned in courtroom on Tuesday that he was not being detained and was a witness within the case, based on ABC Information.

“I can’t go wherever. And I actually need to have the ability to go house, discuss to my household, give them hugs, inform them I miss them,” Riibe mentioned, per the outlet. “I perceive I’m right here to assist, however it’s been 10 days and I can’t go away.”

“I am simply doing what I can, and at this level there’s nothing extra I can do,” Riibe — whose father has traveled to the nation to help his son — mentioned in courtroom, the outlet said.

Guzmán Ariza regulation agency, representing Riibe, mentioned in an announcement shared on Fb, “We need to specific our deep gratitude to the Dominican justice system and all of the establishments concerned within the Joshua Steven Riibe case for recognizing the rule of regulation and guaranteeing respect for his elementary rights as a overseas citizen within the Dominican Republic.”

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ABC Information reported final week that Konanki was believed to have drowned within the ocean, citing officers — although that willpower was beforehand challenged as speculative by Loudon County authorities.

Police didn’t verify the drowning facet when contacted by PEOPLE on the time, and the LCSO mentioned in an announcement that “there isn’t any proof or affirmation of a drowning right now.” Konanki’s physique has not been discovered amid the continued search.

The Dominican Republic Nationwide Police and the regulation agency representing Riibe did not instantly reply when contacted by PEOPLE for extra info.