The parents of a US college student who vanished almost two weeks ago in the resort town of Punta Cana have asked authorities to declare her legally dead.
In a letter to Dominican police dated Monday, Subbarayudu and Sreedevi Konanki state that after an extensive search, local authorities believe that Sudiksha, a 20-year-old student at the University of Pittsburgh, drowned.
“Initiating this process will allow our family to begin the grieving process and address matters related to her absence,” they wrote. “While no declaration can truly ease our grief, we trust that this step will bring some closure and enable us to honor her memory.”
A police official not authorised to speak about the case confirmed on Tuesday that authorities received the letter.
Michael Chapman, sheriff of Loudoun County in Virginia, where the Konankis live, said in a statement on Tuesday that officials have been working with Dominican authorities and continue to review evidence in the case.
“The disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki is tragic, and we cannot imagine the grief her family has been feeling,” he said. “Sudiksha’s family has expressed their belief that she drowned. While a final decision to make such a declaration rests with authorities in the Dominican Republic, we will support the Konanki family in every way possible.”
Sudiksha Konanki and five female friends had travelled to the Caribbean nation on March 3 for a spring break. Police said she disappeared at a beach by her hotel before dawn on March 6.
Authorities have interviewed people who were with Konanki before she vanished, including Joshua Riibe, a senior at St. Cloud University in Minnesota.
Riibe has been detained by Dominican police and is believed to be the last person to see Konanki. He has not been named as a suspect.
He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday afternoon following a request from his attorney that he be released.
According to the transcript of an interview with prosecutors, reported by Dominican media as well as NBC and Telemundo, Riibe told police he was drinking with Konanki on the beach and they were kissing in the ocean when they got caught in a current. Riibe said he was a former lifeguard and helped bring her ashore.
He told investigators he vomited upon reaching the beach and that Konanki said she was going to fetch her things. When he looked up, she was gone. He said he was later surprised to hear of her disappearance.
In their letter, the Konankis wrote that “the individual” last seen with their daughter is cooperating and that no evidence of foul play has been found.
Sudiksha Konanki was born in India and later became a US permanent resident.
Shortly after Konanki’s disappearance, which sparked an Interpol alert, the Indian Embassy in the Dominican Republic said it was “extending all assistance in coordination with government authorities.”
Asked about the investigation in a weekly press conference on Monday, President Luis Abinader said local authorities were collaborating with officials from the United States, including from the FBI.
“The investigation is ongoing,” he said. “We trust it will have a result in due time.”
The Dominican Republic hosted over 11 million tourists last year – around the same as its own population and making it one of the most visited destinations in the Americas.
The US advises “increased caution” for travellers to the country and the FBI on Monday urged spring break tourists to be vigilant.
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