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Missing Pitt student Sudiksha Konanki’s hometown sheriff names person of interest five days into search

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Missing Pitt student Sudiksha Konanki’s hometown sheriff names person of interest five days into search


Authorities in Virginia have identified a 24-year-old man as a person of interest in connection to University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki’s mysterious disappearance last week in the Dominican Republic, according to a report. 

The sheriff’s office in Loudoun County, where the missing college student is from, told Fox News Digital that Iowa resident Joshua Ribe “has been interviewed at length” but has not been accused of foul play in what remains a missing person’s case.

“Sheriff [Michael] Chapman wants to make sure the investigation is comprehensive and includes all possible assets and techniques,” a spokesperson for the sheriff, Thomas Julia, told Fox News Digital.

“We are working closely with the FBI on all of this, and they are working with the Dominican National Police.”

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The hometown sheriff’s department of Sudiksha Konanki has named a person of interest for her disappearance in the Dominican Republic. Instagram / @avaaz.official

The 20-year-old pre-med student was on spring break with five friends at the Riu Republic Resort in Punta Cana on March 6 when she vanished. She was last seen on the beach and Ribe is believed to be the last person to see her alive.

The pair was last captured on surveillance footage walking with a group of friends toward the beach area around 4:15 a.m. Thursday, according to the Dominican Republic National Police. 

Footage obtained by Noticias SIN showed Konanki seemingly clinging to Ribe, a fellow guest at the Caribbean resort, as the group walked onto the beach. 

Konanki traveled with five other people from the University of Pittsburgh to the Riu República Hotel in Punta Cana. AP

Konanki and several friends were on the beach before most of the group called it a night and headed back to their hotel, leaving the young woman on the sand along with her male companion, according to Dominican media. 

Ribe, who traveled to the Dominican Republic from Iowa, gave authorities three different accounts of what happened after the two were alone on the beach, first telling cops he threw up from the rough surf and went back to shore – but asked Konanki if she was OK, according to local reports. 

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In the second version, he allegedly said he felt sick to his stomach and left the water, at which point he last saw the missing woman in knee-deep surf before he passed out.

Footage obtained by Noticias SIN showed Konanki seemingly clinging to a man as the group made their way towards the beach. AP
She was last seen on surveillance camera with five other people entering the beach at the five-star resort after 4:15 a.m. Thursday. Noticias Sin

He then told authorities he saw the Indian citizen and permanent US resident walking along the shore before he passed out in the sand. 

Dominican police have not said if they suspect foul play, but said Ribe is cooperating with their investigation. 

Local authorities have speculated that the spring breaker from Chantilly, Virginia, likely drowned after jumping into the ocean.

A joint investigation into Konanki’s disappearance is being conducted by the US Embassy and the Dominican National Police. Handout

Her father, Subbarayudu Konanki, called on authorities Monday to expand search efforts over his “growing suspicion” she was kidnapped since her body never washed ashore. 

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Police in Punta Cana said on Tuesday they are re-interviewing Konaki’s five travel companions, hotel employees and others who were with her in the early morning hours at the ritzy resort. 

The investigation is now being led by a “high-level commission” of local and US agencies, including the FBI, officials said. 

The search entered its fifth day Tuesday, with missing person posters describing the young woman as 5 foot 3 with black hair and brown eyes.

 

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Pittsburgh natives Joe Manganiello and Caitlin O’Connor move to Mt. Lebanon

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Pittsburgh natives Joe Manganiello and Caitlin O’Connor move to Mt. Lebanon



Pittsburgh-area natives Joe Manganiello and Caitlin O’Connor are returning to their roots. 

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Manganiello, from Mt. Lebanon, and O’Connor, from Uniontown, have bought a home in the South Hills after getting engaged this summer

On Pittsburgh Today Live on Thursday, O’Connor talked about the couple’s move from Hollywood to Mt. Lebanon. 

“It’s so nice to be home,” she said. 

While Manganiello and O’Connor are happy to be back in southwestern Pennsylvania, O’Connor said it’ll be a bigger adjustment for the beloved chihuahua Bubbles. From the Pittsburgh Steelers fashion show to the gala celebrating the new airport terminal, the tiny dog is seemingly always in Manganiello’s arms.

“Bubbles is a California girl. She really doesn’t like the cold. We wrap her in a blanket and she has many, many puffy coats. I bought her a Steelers puffy to put in her stocking, so we’re going to see how she does over the next few months. But it’s not that long. It’s not forever. Winter will come and go,” O’Connor said. 

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And they all got quite the Pittsburgh welcome. O’Connor said it snowed when they were moving in, and Manganiello was outside shoveling for over two hours. She said she’s getting him a snowblower for Christmas.

The couple won’t be braving the Pittsburgh winter for too long. O’Connor said they’ll soon be off to South Africa, where Manganiello will film “One Piece” for Netflix. He’ll star as the villain Crocodile in the popular Japanese manga series. 

“Bubbles will be in a better state,” O’Connor joked, saying it’s currently summer in South Africa. “I just bring Bubbles to set and hang out. It’s really the best job.” 



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Police investigating late-night shooting at Irwin apartment complex

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Police investigating late-night shooting at Irwin apartment complex



Police in Westmoreland County are investigating a late-night shooting that happened at an apartment complex in Irwin Borough.

Irwin Police Chief Daniel Wensel confirmed to KDKA-TV that the department, along with Westmoreland County detectives are investigating a shooting that happened at the Bevington Building along Sweetbriar Drive within the Villages of Easton Apartment Complex.

Dispatchers said the first call related to the incident came in around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

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Details are limited but Chief Wensel said there is no danger to the public.

Police are investigating a late-night shooting that happened at an apartment complex in Irwin Borough, Westmoreland County.

KDKA Photojournalist Brian Smithmyer


It’s unclear if any injuries have been reported or if any arrests have been made.

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Chief Wensel said that more information is expected to be released once detectives and the department get further along in the investigation. 



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Steelers re-sign veteran running back

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Steelers re-sign veteran running back


The Pittsburgh Steelers are re-signing veteran running back Trey Sermon, the team announced today. Sermon has had multiple on-and-off stints with the Steelers since signing with the team rookie mini-camp. He’s appeared in three games for the Steelers in 2025.

Sermon was drafted in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. In 46 career games, Sermon has 505 yards on 134 carries and three touchdowns with the 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, and Steelers.

The Steelers have the chance to put the Baltimore Ravens on the ropes this Sunday. If they defeat the Detroit Lions, the Ravens would have to defeat one of the New England Patriots or Green Bay Packers for the Week 18 matchup between the Steelers and Ravens to have any stakes. The Steelers can also clinch the division before Week 18 if they win their next two games and the Ravens go 1-1 or 0-2.

Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!

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