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From Fox News: The hometown sheriff’s department of a missing American college student has named a person of interest in Sudiksha Konanki’s disappearance in the Dominican Republic.
Loudoun County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Thomas Julia told Fox News Digital that 24-year-old Joshua Riibe is a “person of interest” in the college student’s disappearance during the University of Pittsburgh student’s spring break.
Julia said that Riibe “has been interviewed at length,” but noted its’ “still a missing person case, not a criminal case.” Riibe has not been accused of any crime in the case.
Konanki, 20, a citizen of India, is a resident of Loudon County, Virginia, and a a pre-med student at the University of Pittsburgh. She had traveled with five friends from the University of Pittsburgh to the Riu República Hotel in Punta Cana during the school’s spring break, which began March 2 and ended Sunday.
Riibe, 24, a former high school wrestler, lives in Rock Rapids, Iowa, and is a senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, the Daily Mail reported.
Konanki and Riibe reportedly met at the resort, and were last seen together walking toward the beach around 4:15 a.m. on Thursday, March 6, with four of her friends.
The four others went back to their rooms at 5:55 a.m., but Riibe and Konanki stayed on the beach. At 8:54 a.m. Riibe is seen on surveillance footage slowly walking back to his room, barefoot and without his shirt.
Riibe reportedly told police that they went for a swim but were caught by a large wave. He said he made it back to shore, and fell asleep. Konanki has not been seen since.
Konanki’s friends went out for an excursion later in the morning, and noticed she was missing when they returned at 4:00 in the afternoon. That’s when they notified authorities.
Local officials first said they believed Konanki drowned, but her body has never been found. According to the Daily Mail, officials have taken Riibe’s phone and passport, but have not named him as an actual suspect yet. He is reportedly still in Punta Cana and is being cooperative.
Konanki was last seen on camera walking with Riibe and her friends to the beach:
Authorities are chasing leads after surveillance video showed Konanki’s last known moves before she vanished. A male friend who was with Konanki around the time of her disappearance is under investigation.
Authorities have not named any suspects amid their ongoing investigation. pic.twitter.com/zgOLkEEDze
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 12, 2025
Konanki was seen walking on the beach with 6 people prior to her disappearance, officials told ABC News.
Most returned to the hotel, but one person stayed behind with Konanki, ABC News reported, citing a police report.
Officials say they swam and were caught in a big wave. pic.twitter.com/JFTHkF9a8B
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 12, 2025
Read the full article on https://t.co/GTAO7UuYTi:https://t.co/yvskuqb0S2
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 12, 2025
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