Parents of Missing US Student Seek Declaration of Death in Dominican Republic
Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old US student, has been missing since March 6 in the Dominican Republic. Her parents have asked local police to declare her dead after extensive search efforts failed to locate her. The last person seen with her, Joshua Riibe, has been detained, although he is not a suspect as authorities classify the case as missing person rather than criminal.
The parents of Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old US student missing for nearly two weeks in the Dominican Republic, have requested local police to officially declare her dead. She disappeared on March 6 while walking along a Punta Cana beach during her spring break trip. Despite extensive search efforts, including the use of drones and helicopters, she has yet to be found, and authorities are exploring the possibility of drowning.
Sudiksha, whose family resides in Loudoun County, Virginia, is originally from India and attends the University of Pittsburgh. Her last known activity involved staying behind with acquaintances after a beach trip. Local authorities report that a 22-year-old named Joshua Riibe was the last person with her and has since been detained voluntarily by police, although he is not named as a suspect.
Riibe claims they were swept away by strong waves while drinking and swimming together. He alleges he managed to swim her back to shore but lost sight of her shortly thereafter. He recounted, “I kept trying to get her to breathe… I swallowed a lot of water.” Meanwhile, he faces criticism from his parents regarding the conditions of his detention by Dominican officials.
The investigation remains a missing person case, not classified as criminal, as no one has been identified as a suspect in Konanki’s disappearance. Nonetheless, the family continues to seek closure amid their distressing situation as they deal with the prolonged uncertainty surrounding their daughter’s fate.
In summary, Sudiksha Konanki’s disappearance has led to a distressing situation for her family, prompting them to request a declaration of her death. Despite extensive search efforts and ongoing investigations, she remains unaccounted for. The involvement of Joshua Riibe, the last individual known to be with her, continues to raise questions, although authorities maintain that no foul play is suspected at this time.
Original Source: news.sky.com
