The search for the missing Indian-origin student Sudiksha Konanki is still on and so far, there has been no breakthrough in her whereabouts. However, authorities have identified Joshua Riibe as a ‘person of interest’ in Konanki’s disappearance case.
Konanki, a 20-year-old pre-medical student from Vriginia, was on a vacation with her friends at the Riu Republic Resort in Punta Cana when she went missing on March 6. She was last seen entering the beach in the surveillance footage found by the authorities.
Who is Joshua Riibe?
- Joshua Steven Riibe is a 24-year-old tourist from Iowa and was the last person known to have seen Sudiksha Konanki before she disappeared in Punta Cana.
- Riibe, originally from Rock Rapids, Iowa, is a former wrestler and football player at Central Lyon High School. He is also a senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, according to his LinkedIn profile.
- He had gone to the Dominican Republic for a spring break trip and was staying at the same resort as Konanki.
- Riibe told the police that when he woke up, Konanki was missing, according to the Dominican news outlet El Nacional, which cited local authorities.
- It’s unclear whether Riibe and Konanki knew each other before meeting on the island.
- Thomas Julia, spokesperson for the Loudoun County sheriff’s office told Fox News Digital that Riibe has been interviewed in detail and that Konakani’s disappearance is still a missing case and not a criminal case.
Julia added that the authorities want to ensure a thorough investigation, using all available resources and methods. The team is collaborating closely with the FBI, who in turn are coordinating with the Dominican National Police.