Missing American college student's hometown sheriff names person of interest five days into search
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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.

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

“This includes hotel employees where Konanki and her companions were staying, with the goal of gathering information to corroborate her movements, interactions, and any relevant details for the investigation,” they said.

When asked about a Monday report that Konanki may have drowned, a spokesperson for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office told Fox News Digital that authorities “have heard this and have seen no evidence presented at this time.”

A joint investigation into Konanki’s disappearance is being conducted by the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic, the Dominican National Police and the Dominican Prosecutors Office. The FBI is also assisting.

The FBI declined to provide additional details on the investigation.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Joshua Riibe. 

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