A police source close to the inquiry claims that throughout four interrogations, Joshua Riibe, the American tourist who has been designated a person of interest in the Dominican Republic’s Sudiksha Konanki disappearance, provided authorities with conflicting statements.
The sheriff’s office in Loudoun County, Virginia, where Konanki resides, designated Riibe as a person of interest despite the fact that he has not been charged or accused of any crimes.
Early on the morning of March 6, Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student, was last observed strolling along the shores of the Punta Cana resort known as Riu Republica. She had traveled over spring break with six other female students.
According to a person familiar with the investigation, Konanki’s clothing was discovered on a beach chaise chair. El Nacional, a Dominican publication, reports that no evidence of foul play was found.
Law enforcement has questioned Riibe because they believe he is the last person to have seen Konanki alive, even though Dominican officials have not publicly designated him as a person of interest. On Thursday, March 13, he was still in the nation.
A source told PEOPLE, “He is still at the hotel where he was vacationing and is still available to the Dominican and U.S. authorities for additional clarifications.”
Over the course of four interrogations, Riibe’s tale evolved, according to a prosecutor’s office source, though the source did not elaborate on how his memories changed.
Riibe could not be reached for comment by PEOPLE.
According to a source, Riibe insists that he first met Konanki in the hotel where they were both staying and that they had been “partying” with several of their friends.
The insider told PEOPLE, “At this time, we have no concrete elements that could lead us to believe that foul play was involved, but we are keeping all avenues of investigation open.”
According to a person familiar with the investigation, at approximately 4:15 a.m., surveillance cameras caught Konanki and seven other people on their way to the beach. after drinking in the hotel on March 6. Six of the eight may be seen on camera making their way back to the hotel around 5:55.
Investigators used security footage and interviews to discover that Riibe returned to the hotel alone around 9 a.m.
At 4 p.m., her friends reported Konanki missing to hotel officials after searching for her for many hours. that day.
“As he may have been the last one to see her,” Riibe is still a person of interest to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, but he is not a suspect, the office informed PEOPLE in an update on March 13.
