Joshua Riibe, the 22-year-old key witness in the disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki over spring break, has reportedly left the Dominican Republic and is returning to the United States.
Several sources have confirmed to ABC News and Fox News that Riibe departed from Santo Domingo, the country’s capital, en route to the U.S. NBC News additionally reports that it “saw” Ribbe at “Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo … where he boarded a plane and took off Wednesday evening.”
In a statement to Fox News, Riibe’s attorneys confirmed, “On March 18th, following the conclusion of the habeas corpus hearing that ordered the release of our client, Joshua Riib, the Prosecutor’s Office of La Altagracia informed him of their readiness to return his passport.”
“While Joshua appreciated this decision, he chose, for privacy reasons, to apply for a new passport at the U.S. Consulate, which was promptly issued,” they continued. “We are pleased to announce that Joshua and his father are currently traveling back to their home in the United States.”
A source also claimed to ABC News that Riibe obtained an emergency travel document from the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic to return home.
The Daily Beast has contacted Riibe’s attorneys, the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic, and the State Department for comment.
The college student is considered a witness, not a suspect in Konanki’s disappearance, and is believed to be one of the last people who saw the 20-year-old before she disappeared on March 6 from the beach near their resort, the Riu Republica in Punta Cana.
In the days to follow, Riibe proceeded to have his cellphone and passport confiscated while being interviewed by authorities.
“I can’t go anywhere. And I really want to be able to go home, talk to my family, give them hugs, tell them I miss them,” Riibe said in court Tuesday, according to ABC News. “I understand I’m here to help, but it’s been 10 days and I can’t leave.”
That same day, a Dominican judge ruled that Riibe was able to move around the Dominican Republic without police surveillance because he is only a witness. The judge did not give Riibe his passport back however, claiming that it was not within his jurisdiction.
On Wednesday, a spokesperson at the State Department told ABC News that they were “aware” of Riibe’s situation and take “seriously our commitment to assist US citizens abroad.”
“There is no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens who are overseas. That matters to us,” spokesperson Tammy Bruce told the network. “[Riibe’s case] is a situation where I can’t discuss certainly specifics, but we know that the U.S. Embassy is in communication with him and his family and his lawyer, and we are providing consular assistance as well.”
In a transcript provided to the outlet, Riibe reportedly told prosecutors that he met Konanki for the first time the night she went missing and that the pair went for a swim in the ocean. He said they were then hit by a strong current and were pulled away from the shore.
He added that he last saw her as she was walking knee-deep in water trying to get out.
“The last time I saw her, I asked her if she was OK,” Riibe told prosecutors. “I didn’t hear her response because I began to vomit with all the water I had swallowed. After vomiting, I looked around and I didn’t see anything. I thought she had taken her things and left.” He then fell asleep on a beach chair and returned to his hotel room several hours later.
