The parents of a University of Pittsburgh student who went missing almost two weeks ago during her spring break trip in the Dominican Republic have asked authorities to declare her legally dead after a weekslong investigation into her disappearance has come up short of answers.
Sudiksha Konanki, 20, was last seen early Thursday, March 6, when video surveillance cameras showed her appearing to enter the beach of the Hotel Riu in Punta Cana with her friends and two men around 4:15 a.m. The friendship group and one man returned around 4:55 a.m., without Konanki.
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While officials are still reviewing evidence, Konanki’s parents told reporters on March 18 they believe she must have drowned. "We are coming to terms with the fact that our daughter has drowned," said her father Subbarayudu Konanki. "This is incredibly difficult for us to process."
Authorities have interviewed Joshua Riibe, a 22-year-old St. Cloud University student from Iowa, who was also in Punta Cana for a vacation, and was not part of the friend group Konanki came with. “This particular individual may have been the last one to have seen her, so is of particular interest,” the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) tells TIME in an emailed statement, reiterating that Riibe is not a suspect. A judge ordered Riibe’s release on March 18, saying he can cooperate with authorities without being detained. It’s not clear where Riibe traveled after leaving the Dominican Republic.
“We are using all of our resources to thoroughly investigate the disappearance... and we understand the distress that this case causes her families, Dominicans, and Americans,” the Dominican Republic National Police said in a press release.
The police were first informed of her disappearance on March 7 at 8 a.m. after they received a call from the U.S. embassy. Since then, officials have been coordinating with the Dominican Republic Air Force, Navy, Fire Department, and hotel staff to conduct a search via sea, air, and land with the assistance of canine units. They’ve also employed divers, drones, and helicopters.
Further information about Konanki, a U.S. permanent resident and Indian citizen, will be revealed as the investigation continues, the Dominican Republic National Police said in a March 9 statement.
“We are aware of reports of a University of Pittsburgh student missing in the Dominican Republic. Due to privacy considerations, we have nothing further to share at this time,” the State Department told TIME in an emailed statement. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a press release on Sunday they were working with the Department of State, FBI, DEA, and Homeland Security Investigations and the University of Pittsburgh police to help with the investigation.
The Dominican Republic is currently on a level 2 travel advisory, which encourages visitors to exercise increased caution due to crime.
In a statement, the University of Pittsburgh said they were in contact with Konanki’s family and local authorities, urging anyone with information to reach out to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. “We have offered our full support in their efforts to find her and bring her home safely,” they added.
What happened to Sudiksha Konanki?
Knonanki first arrived in the Dominican Republic on March 3 with a group of five friends. She disappeared after 4:15 a.m. on March 6, where she was last captured on video surveillance entering the beach area with others, according to the Dominican Republic National Police.
In an interview with CNN, Konanki’s father said that his daughter had gone to the beach early that morning with her friends and other men they met at the hotel. “Her friends came back after some time and my daughter did not come back,” Subbarayudu Konanki said.
NBC reported that Riibe, the young man who is believed to be the last person to see Konanki, told police he was drinking with her on the beach and they were kissing in the ocean when they got caught in a current. Riibe said he helped bring her ashore.
Riibe was seen leaving the beach before 9 a.m., though Konanki was not with him. He told investigators that he felt sick, came out of the water and vomited, and laid down on the beach. He told investigators the next thing he remembers was waking up and leaving the area.
Konanki’s father told CNN he wanted authorities to look into whether his daughter could have been kidnapped or human trafficked. “We don’t think she would be able to survive for more than three days in the water and I think something else might’ve happened to her,” he said. Authorities have since confirmed that there were other people on the beach the day of her disappearance, but have found no evidence of foul play.
After the weekslong investigation failed to turn up answers, the family sent a letter to Dominican authorities requesting that their daughter be declared legally dead. “Initiating this process will allow our family to begin the grieving process and address matters related to her absence,” they wrote. “While no declaration can truly ease our grief, we trust that this step will bring some closure and enable us to honor her memory.”
Konanki’s parents travelled to Punta Cana to speak with authorities, but have since returned to Virginia, where Konanki’s father met with Loudoun County Sheriff Chapman.
—With reporting by Nik Popli