The parents of Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old university student who went missing almost two weeks ago in Punta Cana, have requested that Dominican authorities declare her legally dead. In a letter to the police, Subbarayudu and Sreedevi Konanki conveyed their belief that their daughter drowned following an exhaustive search by local authorities. They expressed that this declaration would allow them to commence the grieving process and handle matters concerning her absence.
While the situation remains heartbreaking, the family indicated that this step could provide some closure and help honour their daughter’s memory. The sheriff of Loudoun County, Virginia, where the family resides, acknowledged the tragic nature of Sudiksha’s disappearance and confirmed ongoing collaboration with Dominican officials to review the case’s evidence.
Sudiksha, along with five friends, travelled to the Dominican Republic for spring break on March 3. Approximately three days later, she disappeared from a beach near their hotel. Authorities have questioned individuals who were with her before her disappearance, including Joshua Riibe, a senior from St Cloud University in Minnesota, who is considered a witness but was briefly detained. A judge has ordered his release, stating he can continue to assist the investigation without being held.
Witness accounts suggest that Riibe and Sudiksha were together at the beach, where they became caught in a current while swimming. He reported attempting to bring her to shore but later lost sight of her. Riibe expressed his desire to return home and reconnect with his family, stating he has cooperated fully with the investigation.
In their letter, the Konankis remarked that the individual last seen with their daughter is assisting in the enquiry and that no indications of foul play have emerged. Born in India, Sudiksha was later able to establish permanent residency in the United States. Her family grapples with the heartache while seeking to understand the circumstances surrounding her tragic disappearance.