Punta Cana/New Delhi, Mar 14 (UNI) Joshua Steven Riibe, the last known person to have seen Indian-American student Sudiksha Konanki before her disappearance on March 6 at a Punta Cana beach, in the Dominican Republic, was interviewed again, but he refused to answer at least eight key questions, according to reports.

Riibe, a 22-year-old American, was questioned for the fourth time. During the interrogation by the Public Ministry, Riibe refused to answer questions, repeatedly citing legal advice from his attorneys.

Among the questions he declined to respond to were inquiries about his statements’ accuracy, his conversation with a friend regarding Konanki’s disappearance, whether she knew how to swim, and if she showed distress while in the water, the Dominican Today reported.

He also refused to say whether he informed authorities or hotel staff about the incident and how he personally felt about the situation.

Konanki, a guest at the RIU República hotel, remains missing, and investigations continue.

Authorities are analyzing Riibe’s testimony as they work to uncover new leads in the case.

The Verón, Punta Cana, Prosecutor’s Office has questioned Riibe for the fourth time regarding the disappearance of university student Sudiksha Konanki.

Riibe was later transferred to the prosecutor’s office as investigations continue.

The case has drawn national and international attention, leading authorities to deploy advanced technology, including specialized drones, to aid the search. The Attorney General’s Office confirmed that investigators are considering multiple possibilities beyond an accident.

Eight days after Konanki’s disappearance, search efforts will resume at 6 a.m. this Friday. Authorities remain in coordination with international organizations to advance the investigation.

Yesterday, Interpol’s assistance was sought in the search for Sudiksha Konanki, 20.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) in Virginia has requested Interpol to issue a Yellow Notice, an international alert for locating missing persons in vulnerable situations.

Specialized teams from the National Police, the Attorney General’s Office, the FBI, and the US Embassy’s international liaison are continuing an extensive air, sea, and land operation near the Riu Hotel in Punta Cana, a beach resort town.

Over 300 officers, including specialists and tactical units, have been deployed to scour the coastal and surrounding areas for clues. National Police spokesperson Colonel Diego Pesqueira confirmed that all necessary government resources are being used, with forensic teams analyzing surveillance footage and conducting further investigations.

Investigations said a power outage at the Riu República Hotel, where Sudiksha was staying, led to the Indian-American student and her friends venturing to the beach late in the night on March 6. The blackout, which lasted from March 5 to the following morning, disrupted lighting, security systems, and surveillance cameras, leaving large areas of the resort in darkness. Many guests, including Konanki, went to the beach, where security measures were ineffective.

The hotel confirmed the power failure and announced compensation for affected guests.

During the outage, Konanki was last seen around 4:15 a.m. walking along the beach with American tourist Joshua Steven Riibe. Under normal circumstances, beach access at night is restricted, but the blackout left the area unsupervised.

Konanki had arrived at Punta Cana on March 3 with five friends.

The father of Sudiksha Konanki has urged authorities to expand their investigation and consider the possibility of kidnapping. Subbarayudu Konanki questioned the initial focus on the water, suggesting that if his daughter had drowned, her body would have washed ashore by now.

Sudiksha, a University of Pittsburgh student from Virginia, was last seen before dawn on March 6 near the Riu República Hotel beach.

UNI RN