I really want to be able to go home, talk to my family, give them hugs, tell them I miss them,” Riibe told Judge Elvis Delgado.

Joshua Riibe's return to the U.S. remains unclear as there was no immediate decision about returning his passport, which authorities confiscated last week.

A judge in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday granted a request for freedom for Joshua Steven Riibe, who investigators believe was the last person to see US college student Sudiksha Konanki alive nearly two weeks ago.