Chilling new surveillance footage shows missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki staggering while walking arm-in-arm with an Iowa man identified as a “person of interest” in her disappearance — as the search for the co-ed enters a sixth day.
Joshua Steven Riibe of tiny Rock Rapids has been identified as the last person to see the 20-year-old student alive early on March 6 at the upscale Punta Cana resort, according to local authorities.
The new footage shows the pair walking near the beach around 4:15 a.m., at one point also seen holding hands while Konanki’s spring-break friends stroll nearby, according to Noticias SIN.
Sudiksha Konanki was seen holding hands with Joshua Steven Riibe, a person of interest in her disappearance in the Dominican Republic on March 6. SIN
Riibe was the last person to see Konanki alive, police said. SIN
Joshua Steven Riibe, 24, is a person of interest in the disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki, authorities said. Southeast technical college
Riibe, in a muscle shirt, holds out his phone, seemingly taking selfies as the pair struggles to walk in a straight line, with the still-missing student appearing to stagger at times.
The Dominican Republic National Police reported that Konanki, from Virginia, and her pals spilled out onto the beach from a disco at the Riu Republica Hotel following a power outage.
Most of the group left the beach around 5:50 a.m., leaving Riibe and Konanki alone, police said.
University of Pittsburg student Sudiksha Konanki was on spring break with friends in the Dominican Republic. Facebook / Sudiksha Konanki
According to local reports, Riibe has given three accounts of what happened next, saying he got out of the rough surf and passed out drunk on the beach — only to wake to find that Konanki was gone.
In an email to The Post on Wednesday, Chad Quinn, a spokesman for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Konanki’s hometown, confirmed Riibe was a person of interest in the case, but cautioned against jumping to conclusions.
“This is not at this time a criminal investigation, so to be clear, he is not a suspect,” Quinn said. “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.
Authorities in the Dominican Republic said 300 law enforcement personnel are searching for Sudiksha Konanki. AP
“A number of people have been interviewed by the Dominican National Police with the assistance of the FBI and this is continuing. Our office will have a presence on the ground today too.”
Authorities in the Caribbean island said approximately 300 law enforcement personnel are involved in the search, including the FBI, the agency confirmed this week. The rough surf has complicated the hunt.
Authorities in the Dominican Republic believe Sudiksha Konanki likely drowned early on March 6. Handout
Local police initially suggested Konanki drowned during the early swim. However, her family believes she is a crime victim — and may have been abducted.
In a press release, national police officials would not confirm reports that Riibe’s passport has been seized.
Riibe’s father could not be reached for comment Wednesday. He declined to comment on the case when reached by The Post earlier this week.
