While authorities continue to search for University of Pittsburg student Sudiksha Konanki, the Loudon County Sheriff's Office has named Joshua Riibe as a person of interest in the case. Riibe, a 24-year-old from Iowa, was seen on surveillance footage being with Konanki shortly before she went missing on Thursday, March 6. The case continues to be a missing person case, and Riibe has not been accused of foul play.
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As reported by Fox News Digital, Thomas Julia, a Virginia Sheriff's Office spokesperson, confirmed that Riibe is a person of interest in Konanki's case. Julia noted that Riibe is being "interviewed at length." However, Julia stated that the case is currently being treated as a missing person case, "not a criminal case." Riibe has not been charged with any crime.
"Sheriff [Michael] Chapman wants to make sure the investigation is comprehensive and includes all possible assets and techniques," Julia told the outlet. "We are working closely with the FBI on all of this, and they are working with the Dominican National Police."
Person Of Interest
It was previously reported that Joshua Riibe was probably the last person who saw Sudiksha Konanki. This has yet to be confirmed. Reportedly, he also gave three different and conflicting stories on what happened on March 6.
First, he told police that he threw up after a rough surf, asking Konanki if she was OK. Then, he said that, after feeling sick, he left the water, with Konanki remaining knees-deep in the ocean. Finally, he told authorities that he saw Konanki walking along the shore moments before he passed out.
According to Noticias SIN, video footage shows Konanki clinging to a man and walking to the beach alongside a group of people at around 4:15 a.m. At around 5:55 a.m., the footage then shows all but Riibe and Konanki leaving the beach.
The Dominican National Police are currently interviewing individuals present at the hotel at the time of Konanki's disappearance. "We have expanded the investigation," Diego Pesqueria, director of strategic communication for the Dominican National Police, told Fox News Digital. "More personnel, more equipment, the FBI, the Attorney General's office, interviews, and [sic] are reviewing security camera footage."
