Friends of the individual last seen with missing Pitt student Sudiksha Konanki are shocked that he has been identified as a person of interest in the case. His aunt believes he is innocent, stating he “wouldn’t hurt a fly.” Joshua Steven Riibe, 24, was spotted with the 20-year-old student just before she disappeared in the Dominican Republic. Reports suggest he provided conflicting accounts of their last moments together, one claiming he passed out on the beach and woke up to find her missing. Despite being labeled a person of interest, friends and family maintain Riibe is a good person who would never harm anyone. Surveillance footage shows him walking hand-in-hand with Konanki before her disappearance. Authorities have clarified that he is not a suspect at this time and urge against premature judgments.
The Dominican National Police, with assistance from the FBI, have interviewed a number of individuals and will continue to do so. Our office will also be present on-site today.” Konanki, who hails from Virginia, is a pre-med student at the University of Pittsburgh. Authorities have issued a yellow notice, an international alert used to aid in locating missing persons, for Konanki this week. Around 300 law enforcement officers in the Caribbean island, including the FBI, are actively involved in the search efforts, as confirmed by the agency. The challenging sea conditions have added complexity to the search operation. While local authorities initially suggested that Konanki may have drowned during an early swim, her family suspects foul play and the possibility of abduction.
