Family of Sudiksha Konanki Seeks Official Declaration of Death…

The family of missing Indian student Sudiksha Konanki has requested a death declaration amid ongoing investigative efforts in the Dominican Republic, where she disappeared on March 6. Despite extensive searches, her body has not been found, and the last person seen with her is under surveillance but not considered a suspect.

The family of 20-year-old Sudiksha Konanki, who went missing while vacationing in the Dominican Republic, has requested local police to declare her deceased. Konanki, who held Indian citizenship and was a permanent resident of the U.S., was last seen on March 6 at the Riu Republic Resort in Punta Cana. Despite extensive search efforts, her body has yet to be found, leading her family to take this formal step as they cope with her absence.

Dominican Republic National Police spokesperson Diego Pesqueira confirmed that the Konanki family sent a letter seeking a death declaration. The family has not commented since their request became public, which was reported by NBC News. Concurrently, authorities have confiscated the passport of Joshua Steven Riibe, the last individual known to be with Konanki. Riibe, a 22-year-old college senior from Iowa, is not suspected of wrongdoing but remains under police surveillance as the investigation continues.

Riibe’s prolonged interviews with law enforcement have included over six hours of questioning by the Dominican Republic Attorney General, with more follow-ups expected. The reasons behind the passport seizure and his continued interrogation are unclear. While Konanki’s family acknowledged no foul play appears to be involved in her presumed death, they expressed their trust in the ongoing investigation, emphasizing Riibe’s cooperation with authorities.

Described by her father as driven and focused on a medical career, Konanki traveled to Punta Cana with five peers from the University of Pittsburgh. Initial reports indicated she was last seen socializing and drinking with Riibe and others in the hotel bar before venturing to the beach, where she apparently vanished around 4:15 AM on March 6.

While U.S. authorities classify this as a missing persons case rather than a criminal investigation, Dominican officials continue to explore all avenues of inquiry. Riibe noted attempts to save Konanki after she encountered difficulty while swimming, but the chain of events leading to her disappearance remains a mystery. No suspects have been named in the case so far, underscoring the complexities surrounding this tragic situation.

The disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki has led her family to request an official declaration of death from Dominican police following extensive unsuccessful searches. While the last person seen with her, Joshua Riibe, remains under surveillance, authorities have not classified the case as criminal. The investigation continues as her family expresses trust in local authorities and highlights the lack of suspected foul play.

Original Source: www.business-standard.com