Joshua Riibe, a 22-year-old man from Iowa, faced another obstacle while trying to return home after being named as a person of interest in the disappearance of University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki. Riibe was detained during a stopover in Puerto Rico on Wednesday night because his newly issued U.S. passport lacked the proper exit stamp, according to reports from NotiCentro.
Footage from the incident shows his father, Albert Riibe, calling out to him, urging him to “Ask for your lawyer!” It is unclear how long authorities held Riibe for questioning, but the issue stemmed from his replacement passport, which he received from the U.S. consulate in the Dominican Republic. The missing stamp raised concerns during his stop in Puerto Rico, leading to further delays in his journey home.
Riibe had previously been in the Dominican Republic, where Konanki was last seen before she went missing on March 6, 2025, during her spring break trip. Authorities had named him a person of interest in her disappearance, though no official charges had been filed against him.
Frustrated by yet another delay, Riibe’s father, Albert, expressed his anger at reporters at the Puerto Rican airport. “Leave us alone,” he said, visibly upset. “I’m just a dad who had his son taken away. We’ve spent two weeks trying to stay together, and now… I just don’t understand.”
The situation has drawn national attention due to the ongoing investigation into Konanki’s disappearance. The University of Pittsburgh student was vacationing in the Dominican Republic when she was reported missing. Her case remains open, with authorities working to piece together the events leading up to her disappearance.
Meanwhile, the passport issue has added another complication to Riibe’s return to the U.S. While he has not been charged with any crime, his connection to the missing student’s case has kept him under scrutiny. His father continues to demand answers and justice, claiming they have been unfairly targeted.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not released further details regarding Riibe’s questioning in Puerto Rico or any new developments in the search for Konanki.
