PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic — Authorities in the Dominican Republic are now concentrating on the final individual they think saw a missing University of Pittsburgh student while he was still alive.
Officials seized the passport of Joshua Riibe, an American college senior, and they say they are examining possible inconsistencies in his story.
Riibe is believed to be the last person to have seen 20-year-old Sudiksha Konanki alive and is facing questions from Dominican prosecutors.
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Following an interview with authorities at the Punta Cana hotel where the 22-year-old student from Iowa and Konanki were separately staying with friends, officials seized his passport.
During lengthy discussions with investigators, Riibe recounted the events of that fateful early morning, accompanying them, along with his legal representatives, to the beach area where Konanki is believed to have disappeared.
For days, local authorities have maintained that Riibe is not a suspect and he has not been charged with any crime.
However, police say he is still being considered a witness to a possible drowning.
Sources familiar with the investigation say the lead prosecutor is examining possible contradictions in his story.
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Officials are also reviewing new surveillance video captured the night before Konanki went missing on March 6 from inside the RIU hotel nightclub, which shows Konanki and Riibe appearing to get sick.
According to a transcript obtained by ABC News, Riibe told prosecutors he and Konanki met the night before she disappeared. He said they were drinking with friends before heading to the beach on their own around 4 a.m.
He alleges that the two were kissing in the ocean when they were slammed by a large wave and started to struggle in the surf.
He claims he tried to save her, saying, “I was holding her under my arm and swimming. It was hard. I was a pool lifeguard, not the ocean. Then, when I finally touched the sand, I put her in front of me. Then she got up to go get her stuff since the ocean had moved us.”
He told prosecutors he passed out on the beach and awoke thinking Konanki had gone inside.
Police confirmed two images show her swim coverup and shoes that were recovered on the beach.
Hotel cameras captured him returning to his room that morning.
Joshua Riibe, whom police identified as the last known person believed to have seen Sudiksha Konanki, is not being treated as a suspect.
Riibe’s lawyer, Beatriz Santana, says what is happening to her client is illegal, as he is under permanent surveillance.
“If he wants to leave the hotel, he cannot do that freely, but with police,” she says. “His passport was seized despite not being officially charged.”
He is expected to face more questioning on Monday.
The Riibe family issued a statement, saying in part, “We express our deep sorrow and solidarity with the family of Sudiksha Konanski during this painful time. Above all, we wish to contribute to the search efforts and understand the anguish and uncertainty they are going through and we share the hope that Sudiksha will be found as soon as possible.”
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