Family of Missing Pitt Student Sudiksha Konanki Requests Declaration of Death

The family of Sudiksha Konanki has requested authorities in the Dominican Republic to declare her dead after she went missing during a spring break trip on March 6. Despite extensive searches, her body remains undiscovered. Joshua Riibe, the last person reportedly to see her, is currently under investigation but not considered a suspect.

The family of Sudiksha Konanki, a missing University of Pittsburgh student, has requested that authorities in the Dominican Republic declare her dead. Konanki, aged 20, disappeared on March 6 while on spring break with friends. Despite extensive search efforts, her body has yet to be located, according to a police spokesperson, Diego Pesqueira.

Konanki is a junior majoring in biology and hails from Loudoun County, Virginia. She was last seen after midnight on March 6, at a beach with new acquaintances. Reports indicate that she stayed behind when her friends left, last disappearing around 4:15 a.m.

The last known person to have seen Konanki is identified as Joshua Riibe, a 22-year-old senior from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. His passport has been confiscated by Dominican authorities as part of the ongoing investigation into Konanki’s disappearance.

NBC News noted that Riibe was observed with investigators on a Punta Cana beach. He attempted to assist in the investigation, stating that “The ocean is a dangerous place.” Riibe has been under police supervision, confined to the hotel while the investigation proceeds.

Pesqueira reported that no evidence of violence was discovered at the beach. Notably, red flags indicating strong currents were displayed at the time of Konanki’s disappearance. Riibe described events before she vanished, indicating they were in the water together, but he lost sight of her shortly afterward.

Currently, Dominican authorities do not have any suspects, while U.S. officials categorize the case as that of a missing person rather than criminal activity.

This article initially appeared on NBCNews.com.

In summary, the tragic case of Sudiksha Konanki highlights the ongoing search for clarity regarding her disappearance. Her family’s request for a declaration of death from Dominican authorities signifies a heartbreaking acknowledgment of the situation. The investigation continues, with no suspects identified and a focus on understanding the circumstances surrounding her last known moments.

Original Source: www.nbcphiladelphia.com