Missing American college student seen in new hotel security footage before disappearance

Lost University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki Local news was seen in the recently released security camera footage obtained from the hotel, where she disappeared before she stopped in the Dominican Republic.

Konanki, 20, was last identified as Joshua Riibe, Iowa, with a Witness at around 4:50 a.m. on March 6. Riu Republica from Punta Cana Riibe said they went swimming during the Red Flag warning.

Videos obtained by Noticias Sin from a hotel bar show Konanki and Riibe drinking before Pitt students disappeared. No suspects were nominated for disappearance, and Riibe was identified as a witness only and was not charged with any crime.

Konanki can be seen wearing a white Sorong-style dress, the one found on a beach chair after the authorities disappeared.

The main witness of the disappearance of American college students tells police how they met and what happened on the beach

Other footage obtained by Noticias Crime from Riu Republica Lobby showed Konanki with her friends before disappearing.

Konanki and Riibe both stayed in Riu Republica during a solo trip in Punta Cana. Riibe arrived with a friend on March 1, while Konanki arrived with five friends from Pitt on March 3.

American College Students Disappear in the Dominican Republic: Timetable

At around 4:15 a.m. on March 6, Konanki was part of a group of six women and two men, including Riibe, on the surveillance video approaching the beach. Six of them came back around 6am and took Konanki with Riibe on the beach alone. He came back alone at around 10 a.m.

He sat down with police for multiple interviews, including a Wednesday recorded on a transcript obtained by Fox News.

According to the document, Riibe said he and Konanki were talking in the water when the “big wave” hit them. There was a red warning on the beach at the time that people warned people not to swim in rough surfing.

Hotel horror stories emerge after American college students disappeared because the resort insists that there is no contact

“[W]”The callback of the water dragged us further into the sea. Once we surfaced, we tried to ask for help, but no one was there,” he said.

Riibe is a former pool lifeguard. He said he worked hard to pull Konanki ashore according to the transcript. Once they stood up, he said she walked away and picked up her belongings, then threw them away and passed out. He told police that when he saw her last time, she was walking in deep water on her knees.

The Loudon County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia said it could not verify Wednesday’s transcript, but was consistent with what Riibe told two Loudon detectives to assist in the investigation.

A spokesman told Fox News that the Dominican Republic is leading the investigation.

Missing in the Dominican Republic: Searching for Sudiksha Konanki for a week

Riibe’s attorney Beatriz Santana declined to comment on the case or her client’s interview with the police. Riibe’s parents issued a statement through their lawyers on Friday, which was related to the Dominican authorities’ handling of the case.

“While he was fully willing to cooperate, Josh was detained under irregular conditions and was present by an official translator or legal counsel until Wednesday, March 12,” his parents, Albert and Tina Riibe, said through a lawyer.

His parents said the 22-year-old “has been staying in his hotel room under police surveillance, and since March 6 he has been repeatedly taken to the police station where he has been questioned for a long time.”

“This situation has attracted serious concern within his family, which has left us with legal counsel to ensure his safety and protection of his rights in the process,” they said.

The family said they were willing to continue working with the search work and hoped to share their “deep sorrow and solidarity” with Konanki’s family.

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“The most important thing is that we want to contribute to the search work and understand the pain and uncertainty they are experiencing, and we share our hopes to find Sudiksha as soon as possible,” they said. “Joshua Riibe is deeply frustrated Her disappearance And from the very beginning, they have fully collaborated on searching and clarifying the facts. ”

Fox News’ Michael Ruiz and Bryan Llenas contributed to the report.