The man who officials called a person of interest in the case of missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki said he tried to save her life before she was hit by a wave, according to ABC News.VIDEO ABOVE: Joshua Riibe named person of interest in search for missing Pitt student Sudiksha KonankiJoshua Riibe, named as a person of interest and not a suspect, allegedly told Dominican prosecutors he and Konanki kissed before he tried to save her life when they were hit by a big wave.He told prosecutors he thought Konanki would be OK because she was in knee-deep water, ABC News reported. Riibe then allegedly fell asleep on the beach. Authorities in the Dominican Republic believe the 20-year-old Konanki likely drowned. Officials said Riibe is a U.S. citizen who was on vacation in Punta Cana, but was not with the group traveling with Konanki. FAMILY RELEASES STATEMENTThe following statement from Riibe’s parents was released Friday:”We express our deep sorrow and solidarity with the family of Sudiksha Konanski during this painful time. Above all, we wish to contribute to the search efforts and understand the anguish and uncertainty they are going through and we share the hope that Sudiksha will be found as soon as possible. Joshua Riibe is deeply dismayed by her disappearance and has fully cooperated in the search and clarification of the facts from the very beginning.”Joshua is a 22-year-old college senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, where he is pursuing a degree in land survey. He is a beloved son, brother, and friend, known for his kind nature, sense of humor, and commitment to his community. Throughout his life, he has shown a strong dedication to those around him, participating in sports, student events, and volunteer activities. His faith and values have guided his path, and those who know him can attest to his integrity and good heart.”Despite his full willingness to cooperate, Josh has been detained under irregular conditions and subjected to extensive questioning without the presence of official translators or legal counsel until Wednesday, March 12. He has remained in his hotel room under police surveillance and has been repeatedly taken to the police station since March 6, where he has been interrogated for long hours. This situation has raised serious concern within his family, which has led us to retain legal counsel to initiate legal actions ensuring his safety and the protection of his rights throughout this process.”We thank those who have shown support and understanding during these difficult times. We recognize that this is a complex and painful situation for all parties involved, and we trust that the investigation will be conducted with transparency and justice. Our only interest is that due process be respected and that actions be taken with the fairness that the situation requires.”We ask everyone to pray that Sudiksha be found and returned home to her family.” WHAT WE KNOW:Sudiksha Konanki was last seen in video surveillance around 4:50 a.m. March 6 on the beach at Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana.Police said Konanki, who is a resident of Loudoun County, Virginia, traveled with five other people from the University of Pittsburgh to the area during Pitt’s spring break, which began March 2 and ended Sunday. “We now believe there were six female students of the University of Pittsburgh traveling to Punta Cana,” Thomas Julia of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said. “At least two of whom, including the missing person, are residents of Loudoun County.” After going to a nightclub, Konanki and a group of people went to the beach at 4 a.m. March 6. Sources said the other women traveling with the Pitt student were captured on camera at 5:55 a.m. returning to their hotel rooms without Konanki.A man, believed to be Riibe, stayed behind with Konanki on the beach.Riibe told officials he had gone for a swim with Konanki and got caught by a big wave, the report states.According to sources, he went back to the beach and “threw up,” saying he passed out and later returned to the hotel, unsure where she had gone. As of Sunday evening, three Dominican officials told ABC News the Pitt student may have died by drowning after she went for a swim and was caught by a big wave. The FBI has since been briefed on the situation.Several agencies are also involved in the search, including civil defense, firefighters, the national police and the Dominican Navy. The University of Pittsburgh Police Department provided an update Monday, saying it is also working with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and the following agencies: the U.S. State Department, FBI, HSI, DEA, and the local Dominican Republic authorities.Konanki’s parents have since traveled from Virginia to the Dominican Republic to help in the search.A yellow notice has been issued by INTERPOL. PERSON OF INTEREST: Joshua RiibeOn Wednesday, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to WTAE they consider Joshua Riibe a person of interest. Though Riibe is considered a person of interest, officials say he is not a suspect and the case is not a criminal investigation at this time.”It is our understanding that he is a US citizen who was vacationing in Punta Cana, not part of the group traveling with the missing person,” Officials with the sheriff’s office told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. Officials say Riibe may have been the last one to see Konanki.WHAT TACTICS OFFICIALS ARE USING IN THE SEARCH The Dominican Republic Civil Defense released a statement Monday saying drones, along with helicopters and teams specialized in maritime rescues, have been deployed in the search for Konanki. Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 spoke with officials from Pittsburgh’s swift water rescue team about the difficulty crews may face in locating Konanki in the Dominican Republic. “So, it poses a greater risk and difficulty in that aspect (searching in the water). The amount of water, how strong the currents are, the waves coming down. It can hit someone, knock someone over. The type of land that’s underneath the water rocks, depending on the shoreline, and just the vast majority of it,” Thomas Deangelis, deputy chief in charge of special operations in Stowe Township, said Tuesday.They said in their cases, it may be easier to get to a victim before they drown. But that’s not always the case for the ocean.”The ocean can be a great danger, even for the greatest swimmers. Things like the rip currents in the waves knocking them over,” Deangelis said. Crews in the Dominican Republic have continued to search the beach she was last seen walking on, and multiple posts on social media show groups along the shoreline. WHO IS SUDIKSHA KONANKI?Konanki is currently a junior at the University of Pittsburgh. According to Pitt’s website, she is said to be studying biological sciences and chemistry. The website did not list an official declaration of her major. According to her LinkedIn profile, she graduated in 2022 from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, where she earned a diploma in biological sciences. U.S. News & World Report ranked Thomas Jefferson as the No. 1 high school in America in 2021 and 2022. HOW YOU CAN HELP IN THE SEARCH Anyone with information is urged to contact the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office at 703-777-1021.
The man who officials called a person of interest in the case of missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki said he tried to save her life before she was hit by a wave, according to ABC News.
VIDEO ABOVE: Joshua Riibe named person of interest in search for missing Pitt student Sudiksha Konanki
Joshua Riibe, named as a person of interest and not a suspect, allegedly told Dominican prosecutors he and Konanki kissed before he tried to save her life when they were hit by a big wave.
He told prosecutors he thought Konanki would be OK because she was in knee-deep water, ABC News reported. Riibe then allegedly fell asleep on the beach.
Authorities in the Dominican Republic believe the 20-year-old Konanki likely drowned.
Officials said Riibe is a U.S. citizen who was on vacation in Punta Cana, but was not with the group traveling with Konanki.
FAMILY RELEASES STATEMENT
The following statement from Riibe’s parents was released Friday:
“We express our deep sorrow and solidarity with the family of Sudiksha Konanski during this painful time. Above all, we wish to contribute to the search efforts and understand the anguish and uncertainty they are going through and we share the hope that Sudiksha will be found as soon as possible. Joshua Riibe is deeply dismayed by her disappearance and has fully cooperated in the search and clarification of the facts from the very beginning.
“Joshua is a 22-year-old college senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, where he is pursuing a degree in land survey. He is a beloved son, brother, and friend, known for his kind nature, sense of humor, and commitment to his community. Throughout his life, he has shown a strong dedication to those around him, participating in sports, student events, and volunteer activities. His faith and values have guided his path, and those who know him can attest to his integrity and good heart.
“Despite his full willingness to cooperate, Josh has been detained under irregular conditions and subjected to extensive questioning without the presence of official translators or legal counsel until Wednesday, March 12. He has remained in his hotel room under police surveillance and has been repeatedly taken to the police station since March 6, where he has been interrogated for long hours. This situation has raised serious concern within his family, which has led us to retain legal counsel to initiate legal actions ensuring his safety and the protection of his rights throughout this process.
“We thank those who have shown support and understanding during these difficult times. We recognize that this is a complex and painful situation for all parties involved, and we trust that the investigation will be conducted with transparency and justice. Our only interest is that due process be respected and that actions be taken with the fairness that the situation requires.
“We ask everyone to pray that Sudiksha be found and returned home to her family.”
WHAT WE KNOW:
Sudiksha Konanki was last seen in video surveillance around 4:50 a.m. March 6 on the beach at Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana.
Police said Konanki, who is a resident of Loudoun County, Virginia, traveled with five other people from the University of Pittsburgh to the area during Pitt’s spring break, which began March 2 and ended Sunday.
“We now believe there were six female students of the University of Pittsburgh traveling to Punta Cana,” Thomas Julia of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said. “At least two of whom, including the missing person, are residents of Loudoun County.”
After going to a nightclub, Konanki and a group of people went to the beach at 4 a.m. March 6. Sources said the other women traveling with the Pitt student were captured on camera at 5:55 a.m. returning to their hotel rooms without Konanki.
A man, believed to be Riibe, stayed behind with Konanki on the beach.
Riibe told officials he had gone for a swim with Konanki and got caught by a big wave, the report states.
According to sources, he went back to the beach and “threw up,” saying he passed out and later returned to the hotel, unsure where she had gone.
As of Sunday evening, three Dominican officials told ABC News the Pitt student may have died by drowning after she went for a swim and was caught by a big wave.
The FBI has since been briefed on the situation.
Several agencies are also involved in the search, including civil defense, firefighters, the national police and the Dominican Navy.
The University of Pittsburgh Police Department provided an update Monday, saying it is also working with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and the following agencies: the U.S. State Department, FBI, HSI, DEA, and the local Dominican Republic authorities.
Konanki’s parents have since traveled from Virginia to the Dominican Republic to help in the search.
A yellow notice has been issued by INTERPOL.
PERSON OF INTEREST: Joshua Riibe
On Wednesday, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to WTAE they consider Joshua Riibe a person of interest.
Though Riibe is considered a person of interest, officials say he is not a suspect and the case is not a criminal investigation at this time.
“It is our understanding that he is a US citizen who was vacationing in Punta Cana, not part of the group traveling with the missing person,” Officials with the sheriff’s office told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4.
Officials say Riibe may have been the last one to see Konanki.
WHAT TACTICS OFFICIALS ARE USING IN THE SEARCH
The Dominican Republic Civil Defense released a statement Monday saying drones, along with helicopters and teams specialized in maritime rescues, have been deployed in the search for Konanki.
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 spoke with officials from Pittsburgh’s swift water rescue team about the difficulty crews may face in locating Konanki in the Dominican Republic.
“So, it poses a greater risk and difficulty in that aspect (searching in the water). The amount of water, how strong the currents are, the waves coming down. It can hit someone, knock someone over. The type of land that’s underneath the water rocks, depending on the shoreline, and just the vast majority of it,” Thomas Deangelis, deputy chief in charge of special operations in Stowe Township, said Tuesday.
They said in their cases, it may be easier to get to a victim before they drown. But that’s not always the case for the ocean.
“The ocean can be a great danger, even for the greatest swimmers. Things like the rip currents in the waves knocking them over,” Deangelis said.
Crews in the Dominican Republic have continued to search the beach she was last seen walking on, and multiple posts on social media show groups along the shoreline.
WHO IS SUDIKSHA KONANKI?
Konanki is currently a junior at the University of Pittsburgh. According to Pitt’s website, she is said to be studying biological sciences and chemistry. The website did not list an official declaration of her major.
According to her LinkedIn profile, she graduated in 2022 from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, where she earned a diploma in biological sciences.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Thomas Jefferson as the No. 1 high school in America in 2021 and 2022.
HOW YOU CAN HELP IN THE SEARCH
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office at 703-777-1021.
