Community Chat

[elated]

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic — Authorities in the Dominican Republic have seized the passport of Joshua Riibe, the man seen with University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki before she went missing,

Fox News has learned Riibe's attorneys said Saturday that Riibe's travel document was taken by authorities "several days ago." He has not been named a suspect in the 20-year-old student's disappearance, but authorities have said he is a "person of interest" in the matter, which they consider a missing person case.

"It was confiscated by authorities when he tried to check out several days ago, when the investigation began," lawyers from Guzmán Ariza, a Dominican Republican law firm, said. "He hasn't had access to it since then." 

Konanki, of Loudon County, Virginia was staying at the Riu República Hotel in Punta Cana with five fellow Pitt students before she vanished. She was last seen on surveillance camera footage entering a beach with five other people after 4:15 a.m. March 6.

All group members except Konanki returned around 6 a.m. The 20-year-old stayed on the beach with Riibe. 

On Wednesday, Riibe completed a nearly four-hour interview with detectives, answering over 50 questions about the events leading up to Konanki's disappearance.

[patbz]

I've been to Dominican Republic and the fact that major resorts openly had armed guards. If I were the parent of a high school or college female I would do some research before I allowed my daughter to go there (even in a group); same goes for Aruba ( been there too). Parents have some accountability for their student daughters.

[Tinkrbl44]

I feel badly for the young man, but they all must know there are cameras everywhere. 

It's possible she drowned, but finding her body would depend on ocean currents, and larger marine life in the area.

[lynnie61]

I'm also from the Pittsburgh area, so lots of local coverage.  Very sad indeed.  Sounds like she may have been swept away and drowned.  Not sure why they would be that close to the ocean if drinking, and he was coughing up water, passed out on the beach, and thought she went back to the hotel.  I feel terrible for everyone involved.  Everyone wants to have fun on spring break, but stay together in numbers.  I didn't see specific videos besides the one where all of them were headed to the beach.  Very sad.  

[ninjawife]

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@elated wrote:

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic — Authorities in the Dominican Republic have seized the passport of Joshua Riibe, the man seen with University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki before she went missing,

Fox News has learned Riibe's attorneys said Saturday that Riibe's travel document was taken by authorities "several days ago." He has not been named a suspect in the 20-year-old student's disappearance, but authorities have said he is a "person of interest" in the matter, which they consider a missing person case.

"It was confiscated by authorities when he tried to check out several days ago, when the investigation began," lawyers from Guzmán Ariza, a Dominican Republican law firm, said. "He hasn't had access to it since then." 

Konanki, of Loudon County, Virginia was staying at the Riu República Hotel in Punta Cana with five fellow Pitt students before she vanished. She was last seen on surveillance camera footage entering a beach with five other people after 4:15 a.m. March 6.

All group members except Konanki returned around 6 a.m. The 20-year-old stayed on the beach with Riibe. 

On Wednesday, Riibe completed a nearly four-hour interview with detectives, answering over 50 questions about the events leading up to Konanki's disappearance.

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I can see why Riibe is still a person of interest.  Authorities have said that his story has changed several times since he was so drunk he doesn't clearly remember exactly what happened.  In one version of his story he says they were in the water kissing and were knocked over by a wave.  He rescued her and pulled her to shore.  He then became sick and passed out on a lounge chair.  When he woke up she was gone and he assumed she went back to the hotel. 

[jellyBEAN]

I have so many questions about this case.  Looked like about 6 kids left the hotel at 4:15am to go down to the beach.  Did they know each other?  Were they just random kids that hooked up to do this?  Were any clothes found?  What about phones?  Other personal belongings?  Blood alcohol levels tested?  

I just hope they can find her body so the family can have closure.  Lots of sharks down there I hear, shark would have eaten a bathing suit and the girl.  What a nightmare for this family.  So very sad.

[cindyNC]

I thought of Natalie H. also.  When the story first broke, I honestly thought her chance of being found alove was slim. So sad. 

[Still Raining]

From the news I have seen, she exercised remarkably bad judgment.  But if she was an adult she could do as she wished.

My granddaughters are all into air travel accidents right now since we have a trip over spring break.  I am pondering going over this story with them.  There are some bad people out there.

[Patriot3]

I don't understand why these young women think it is okay to go roaming around alone in the middle of the night anywhere let alone in a strange country.   This is supposed to be fun?  Was she drunk or something?

[skatting44]

    Same  old story ,  don't know why these girls  put themselves at risk  over and over. Just as the  deaths that occur with  these college   hazings .  Thought  that young people would  be more aware. The video they show where  she's walking  arm in arm with that man , she looks drunk.