Family Seeks Legal Declaration of Death for Missing College Student

The family of Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student who disappeared in Punta Cana, has taken a significant step by requesting a formal declaration of death. This request follows an extensive search that, according to local authorities, suggests that she may have drowned.

Request for Closure

In a letter addressed to Dominican police on Monday, her parents, Subbarayudu and Sreedevi Konanki, expressed their need for closure amidst the sorrow of their daughter’s disappearance. They wrote, “Initiating this process will allow our family to begin the grieving process and address matters related to her absence.” They acknowledged that while no declaration could ease their grief, this step might help in honoring Sudiksha’s memory.

Details Surrounding Her Disappearance

Sudiksha Konanki traveled to the Dominican Republic for spring break with five friends, arriving on March 3. She was reported missing after vanishing from a beach near her hotel in the early hours of March 6.

Investigation Progress

Authorities have been investigating her disappearance, interviewing individuals who interacted with Sudiksha prior to her vanishing. One key person of interest is Joshua Riibe, a senior from St. Cloud University in Minnesota, who spent time with her at the beach. Although he has been detained by police, he has not been formally accused of wrongdoing.

According to a police interview transcript, Riibe stated that he and Konanki were together in the water and began to struggle against a current. He, claiming to be a former lifeguard, reported that he was able to help her to shore but became ill upon their return to land. After she decided to retrieve her belongings, he stated that she suddenly disappeared.

In the letter to authorities, the Konanki family noted that Riibe is cooperating with the investigation and that no evidence of foul play has been uncovered thus far.

Background on Sudiksha Konanki

Originally from India, Sudiksha Konanki became a U.S. permanent resident and was pursuing her studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Her family is now focused on navigating the processes that follow her presumed tragic loss.