'Person of Interest' Named amid Search for Missing College Student, 20, Who Vanished on Beach in Dominican Republic: Police

Mar. 15, 2025

Sudiksha Konanki.Photo:linkedin

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A “person of interest” has been named amid the ongoing investigation into a20-year-old college student’s disappearancein the Dominican Republic, authorities have said.

University of Pittsburgh junior Sudiksha Konanki — a resident of Virginia’s Loudoun County — was last seen in the early hours of the morning on Thursday, March 6, while walking on a beach at Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, theDominican Civil Defenseand amissing postershared on social media previously confirmed.

Konanki — an Indian citizen — was reportedly traveling in a group of six female Pittsburgh students, including one other Loudoun County resident, a spokesperson for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) previously told PEOPLE in a statement.

As the investigation into Konanki’s disappearance continued on Wednesday, March 12, LCSO spokesperson Thomas Julia confirmed to PEOPLE that 24-year-old Joshua Riibe was a “person of interest” in the case. No charges have been filed.

Riibe could not immediately be reached for comment.

“He is a person of interest in what is still a missing person investigation,” Julia said in an email. The spokesperson wasn’t able to comment on whether Riibe had been the last person to see Konanki on the beach the morning she went missing.

Sudiksha Konanki.Facebook

Facebook

“Sheriff [Michael] Chapman wants to make sure the investigation is comprehensive and includes all possible assets and techniques,” LCSO’s Julia said, perFox News Digital, adding, “We are working closely with the FBI on all of this, and they are working with the Dominican National Police.”

“Yes this is what Sheriff Chapman said and believes,” Julia added to PEOPLE in an email.

The update comes after sources close to the investigation toldABC Newsand Dominican news outletEl Nacionalthat themissing student’s clothes were foundon a chaise lounge on the beach and noted there were no signs of violence.

Dominican police confirmed to PEOPLE that clothes had been found but did not share more details.

Konanki was last seen on video surveillance cameras with a group walking onto the beach around 4:15 a.m. local time on March 6, the Dominican Republic National Police said in apress release.

After most of the group left, Konanki stayed on the beach with one other person,ABC Newsreported, citing an investigative report from Dominican authorities.

Sudiksha Konanki.Sudiksha Konanki/Facebook

Sudiksha Konanki/Facebook

According to police, Konanki’s body has yet to be recovered amid a “sea, air and land” search “in the entire periphery and surrounding areas, through the use of drones, helicopters, divers, boats, canine units and human personnel, among other technologies.”

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The FBI and U.S. Embassy International Liaison have joined in the investigation,Dominican authorities said in a press release. The Embassy of India in the Dominican Republic is also involved.

source: people.com