Parents of Missing American College Student Request Daughter's Death Declaration

The parents of Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student who vanished while vacationing in the Dominican Republic on March 6, have made the heartbreaking decision to ask authorities to declare their daughter dead. Their announcement follows a letter they sent to Dominican police, citing conclusions drawn by officials that Sudiksha likely drowned.

Subbarayudu Konanki, Sudiksha's father, explained to reporters that both U.S. and Dominican authorities provided evidence of high ocean waves during the time of her disappearance, adding that accepting her fate has been a "difficult" journey. Sudiksha, just 20 years old, was staying at a Punta Cana resort when she reportedly went swimming with a male guest despite red-flag warnings about dangerous conditions. The man, 22-year-old Joshua Riibe from Iowa, is considered a witness but not a suspect in the case.

In an emotional statement, Subbarayudu said, "It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we are coming to terms with the fact that our daughter is gone." The witness's account, shared with Dominican authorities, describes a large wave crashing over them while swimming. He recounted trying to help Sudiksha but losing sight of her as he battled seawater himself. Afterward, he assumed she had returned to her room and later fell asleep in a beach chair. Surveillance footage confirmed Riibe returned to his hotel room around 9 a.m. on the same day.

Authorities clarified that Riibe is not under suspicion, a point emphasized by Sudiksha's father during his remarks. "Keep our daughter in your prayers," he urged, while reflecting on her bright future and aspirations of becoming a doctor. Sudiksha had been enrolled in pre-med studies at the University of Pittsburgh.

Meanwhile, the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office in Virginia, where the Konanki family resides, expressed its support for the family. "While a final decision to make such a declaration rests with authorities in the Dominican Republic, we will support the Konanki family in every way possible as we continue to review the evidence," the office stated.

As for Joshua Riibe, his legal entanglements in the Dominican Republic are far from over. Although a judge ruled in his favor, deeming his detention unlawful, Riibe remains in the country as authorities continue their investigation. Another hearing is scheduled for March 28, though it's unclear when he might be allowed to return to the U.S. His family has criticized his prolonged stay as "irregular," given that he has not been accused of any crime.

Riibe, a senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, has been under surveillance since Sudiksha's disappearance. The Konanki family, on the other hand, is now left to grieve their daughter and focus on their other children as they attempt to move forward.