College Girl Vanished On Spring Break Trip With Friends - Now Her Mystery Date Has Been Identified!

We may be one step closer to figuring out what happened to Sudiksha Konanki.

Over the weekend, the story of the missing University of Pittsburgh junior confounded the nation. Sudiksha mysteriously vanished while on vacation in the Dominican Republic, just moments out of the sight of her friends.

The 20-year-old was last seen in security footage on Thursday, March 6 — going for an early morning beach walk at the Riu República Hotel in Punta Cana. According to the Dominican Civil Defense, she was in the country on a spring break getaway with a group of fellow female Pitt students. ABC News reported they were all on the beach together until the majority of the group broke away, leaving Sudiksha and one other person alone. In surveillance footage obtained by Noticias SIN, the young woman can be seen walking arm-in-arm with the other person, an unidentified man. See (below):

A search party was launched on Saturday, but it sadly turned up no good news… Or really any news at all. The search resumed on Sunday, but sadly to no avail… Until Tuesday when sources close to the investigation told ABC News that Sudiksha’s clothes were found on a beach lounge!

There were no signs of violence. It seemed she disrobed on her own. So a theory soon emerged that she drowned after going for a swim with the mystery man. As of now, nothing has been confirmed and the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office claimed in a statement:

“There is no evidence or confirmation of a drowning at this time and the case is being aggressively investigated by U.S. law enforcement working with the Dominican national police, with support from assets here at home.”

We’ve been waiting with bated breath for ANY updates, and it finally sounds like there’s a pretty major one.

As the investigation continues, LCSO spokesperson Thomas Julia confirmed that 24-year-old Joshua Riibe has officially been named a person of interest in the case. She explained in a statement to People:

“He is a person of interest in what is still a missing person investigation.”

According to officials, Joshua is an American citizen who was on vacation in Punta Cana at the same time — but was not traveling with the college group! It seems he was the man in the video as he is believed to be the last person to see Sudiksha. Remember, he is just a person of interest at this time — not a suspect!

Julia added in a statement to Fox News Digital:

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

We hope Riibe is able to offer some answers… Until then, our hearts are with Sudiksha’s loved ones.

[Images via Sudiksha Konanki/LinkedIn]