Family of Missing American Student in Dominican Republic Seeks Death Declaration

Sudiksha Konanki, a missing US student in the Dominican Republic, has been unaccounted for since March 6, leading her parents to request a death declaration from local police. Search efforts have been extensive but unsuccessful, and the last person seen with her, Joshua Riibe, has been detained without being named a suspect. Riibe describes their struggle in the ocean, raising questions about Ms. Konanki’s fate.

Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old United States student, has been missing in the Dominican Republic since March 6. She reportedly disappeared while walking along a beach in Punta Cana during her spring break. Her parents have now requested local authorities to declare her deceased, as extensive searches have not yielded any results.

Despite the ongoing search efforts, which have included drones, helicopters, and both national and tourist police, Ms. Konanki has yet to be found. Her family has taken the step of sending a letter to the police expressing their desire for a declaration of death. It was noted that she was originally from India and resided with her family in Loudoun County, Virginia, while studying at the University of Pittsburgh.

According to reports, Ms. Konanki was last seen after a beach outing with friends. She chose to remain behind with acquaintances, and last contact was made with 22-year-old Joshua Riibe, who was later detained by police but has not been named as a suspect. law enforcement maintains that no individual is presently regarded as a suspect in her disappearance.

Mr. Riibe reported that he was with Ms. Konanki when they were pulled into the ocean by a strong tide. In his statement, he indicated attempts to assist her to shore, claiming he struggled to keep both himself and her afloat. He stated, “I kept trying to get her to breathe, but that didn’t allow me to breathe all the time, and I swallowed a lot of water.”

In recounting the last moments with her, Mr. Riibe indicated, “The last time I saw her, I asked if she was OK. I didn’t hear her answer. I looked around and didn’t see anyone. I thought she’d grabbed her things and left.” His parents have expressed concerns about the conditions of his detention, alleging he was held without proper supports such as translation or legal assistance for over a week.

The case of Sudiksha Konanki illustrates the profound distress that missing persons’ cases can inflict on families, as shown by her parents’ request to declare her deceased. Despite previous hopes for her safety, the extensive search efforts yielding no results and the circumstances surrounding her last known whereabouts remain troubling. As the investigation continues without any defined suspects, it highlights the challenges faced in such tragic situations.

Original Source: news.sky.com