D.R. JUDGE RULES IN FAVOR TO ALLOW PERSON OF INTEREST TO RELEASED

A Dominican Republic judge is ruling in favor of an American linked to the disappearance of a University of Pittsburgh student.  Sudiksha Konanki has been missing for nearly two weeks, after she was last seen near her hotel walking with Joshua Riibe of Iowa.  Riibe has been held in the Dominican Republic since her disappearance and appeared in court on Tuesday, asking that he be allowed to return to the United States.  The judge ruled in favor of Riibe’s plea for freedom, although it’s not clear when exactly he’ll be released.  Konanki’s parents sent a formal request to Dominican Republic officials Monday, asking them to declare their daughter dead.