Missing Sudhiksha’s parents believe she drowned, request Dominican Republic to declare her dead

US: In a heart-breaking event, the parents of 20-year-old Sudhiksha Konanki, a US student who went missing in the Dominican Republic, have announced their belief that she tragically lost her life in an accident.

After a massive search for about 12 days, Subbarayudu and Sridevi, finally gave up hope of their daughter returning alive.

Breaking out in tears, Sudhiksha’s parents spoke to the media, taking a tough call as they had to look after their twin children, younger than Sudhiksha.

“It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we are coming to terms with the fact our daughter has drowned. This is incredibly difficult for us to process,” Subbarayudu Konanki told the media.

“We still have two young children to care for, and they’re at a very tender age. In light of this, we respectfully request some space, time and privacy to focus on healing and helping our children recover as we try to move forward with our lives,” Subbarayudu added.

They also wrote a letter to the Dominican Republic authorities, asking them to declare their daughter ‘dead’. Dominican Republic National Police spokesperson Diego Pesqueira said Konanki’s family has sent the agency a letter requesting a declaration of death.

“Following an extensive search, Dominican authorities have concluded that Sudiksha is believed to have drowned. Her clothes were discovered on a beach near where she was last seen. The individual last seen with her is cooperating with the investigation, and no evidence of foul play has been found. Given these circumstances, and after much deliberation, we request that the police department proceed with the legal declaration of her death. We understand that certain legal procedures must be followed and are prepared to comply with any necessary formalities or documentation, initiating this process will allow our family to begin the grieving process and address matters related to her absence. While no declaration can truly ease our grief, we trust that this step will bring some closure and enable us to honour her memory,” the letter read.

Events leading up to Sudhiksha’s disappearance

Subbarayudu from Rajampet in Kadapa district moved to the US in 2006. The family lives in Loudoun County, Virginia. His daughter Sudhiksha, a pre-medical student at the University of Pittsburgh, went to the Dominican Republic on a spring break with five of her friends. On March 6 night, she was with two of her friends and one Joshua Riibe, a 22-year-old man from Iowa, whom she met at the same resort.

Surveillance video showed her and a group of friends walking toward the beach. She was with five women and two American men in the video.

After her friends left the beach, she stayed behind with people she met on the trip. She vanished after 4:15 am that day. The last person thought to have seen Konanki has been identified as Joshua Riibe. Despite extensive search, the cops couldn’t find her.

The parents also requested that Joshua Riibe, who was last seen with Konanki, be allowed to leave the Caribbean nation, where he has been detained as the investigation continues.