Parents of Missing US Student Request Declaration of Death in Dominican Republic

Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old US student, went missing in the Dominican Republic on March 6; her parents have requested authorities declare her dead after extensive searches yielded no results. Last seen with fellow student Joshua Riibe, no criminal investigation has been initiated, although Riibe has been detained for questioning.
The parents of Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old US student missing in the Dominican Republic, have requested local authorities to declare her dead after nearly two weeks without any trace. Ms. Konanki disappeared on March 6 while walking along a beach in Punta Cana, as reported by the local civil defense service. Despite extensive searches, including aerial surveillance and aquatic efforts, no evidence of her has surfaced.
Ms. Konanki, originally from India, resided in Loudoun County, Virginia, and attended the University of Pittsburgh. Local authorities report that no suspects have emerged in the case despite the detention of a fellow student, Joshua Riibe, the last known person to be with Konanki before her disappearance. Riibe claims that the two were caught in strong tides while swimming.
After an outing with friends, Ms. Konanki allegedly stayed back with individuals she met at the beach, leading to her last known location being the water. Riibe stated that he attempted to rescue her as they were swept out to sea and that he believed she had returned safely to shore before she vanished.
The case of Sudiksha Konanki remains unresolved as her parents seek closure by requesting a death declaration. Extensive search efforts have yet to yield results, while the last known individual with her, Mr. Riibe, continues to face scrutiny without being labeled a suspect. Ongoing investigations remain focused on piecing together the events leading to her disappearance.
Original Source: news.sky.com