Person of Interest Named in Case of Missing Student Sudiksha Konanki

The desperate search for missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki in the Dominican Republic is ongoing — and now, authorities in Virginia have zeroed-in on a person of interest.

Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Thomas Julia confirmed to TMZ that 24-year-old Joshua Riibe is a “person of interest” in Konanki’s disappearance — surveillance video shows him as the last person seen with her before she disappeared.

We’re told Riibe — a former high school wrestler — has been “interviewed at length,” but Julia emphasized that, for now, this remains a missing-person case, not a criminal one.

As of now, Riibe has not been accused of any crime in connection to Sudiksha’s disappearance during her spring break trip to a hotel in Punta Cana.

Konanki — a resident of Loudoun County, Virginia — and Riibe were recorded on surveillance video walking with friends toward the beach around 4:15 AM Thursday, March 6 … before she vanished around 4:50 AM, according to investigators.

Riibe is reportedly cooperating with authorities — he claims he and Sudiksha went for a swim but were caught by a large wave. He told authorities he felt sick, but he managed to make it back to shore and fell asleep … but Sudiksha was never seen again. Previous reports indicated she may have drowned.