Hometown sheriff of missing American college student identifies person of interest after five days of search

A person of interest has been identified by the hometown sheriff’s department of a missing American college student, Sudiksha Konanki, who disappeared in the Dominican Republic.

According to Loudoun County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Thomas Julia, 24-year-old Joshua Riibe is considered a person of interest in the disappearance of the college student during her spring break from the University of Pittsburgh.

While Riibe has been extensively interviewed, Julia clarified that it is currently being treated as a missing person case and not a criminal case, emphasizing that Riibe has not been charged with any crime related to 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.