The family of a University of Pittsburgh student who vanished during a spring break trip has formally requested that authorities declare her deceased, moving toward a painful resolution more than ten days after her disappearance.
Sudiksha Konanki, 20, was last seen in the early morning hours of March 6 on a beach near her hotel in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. She was on vacation with friends. According to a statement from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, which is assisting in the case, Konanki’s family submitted a written request to both local and Dominican officials asking for a declaration of death, citing a need for closure.
Sheriff Michael Chapman stated that while the ultimate authority to make such a declaration lies with Dominican Republic officials, his office supports the family’s wishes and continues to review all available evidence. The family believes the student drowned.
In the days following her disappearance, authorities released a description of Konanki, noting she is 5’3” with dark features, a citizen of India, and a permanent U.S. resident from Chantilly, Virginia. She was last seen wearing a brown bikini.
A key figure in the investigation is Joshua Riibe, 22, who is considered the last person to have seen Konanki alive. Surveillance footage from the night she vanished shows her walking toward the ocean with a group that included Riibe. According to a source familiar with his statements to investigators, Riibe reported that he and Konanki were pulled into the water by a large wave. He stated that while he struggled back to shore in rough conditions, he believed she had also made it out but could not be certain.
Konanki’s father previously described his daughter as an ambitious and kind young woman who aspired to a career in medicine. The family’s request marks a solemn step in a tragic case that has drawn international attention.
