Family of Missing American Sudiksha Konanki Requests She Be Declared Dead
University of Pittsburgh Student Vanished During Spring Break in the Dominican Republic
The family of missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki has formally requested that the Dominican Republic's national police declare her dead, following an extensive but unsuccessful search effort.
Konanki, 20, disappeared while on spring break in Punta Cana. She was last seen around 4:00 AM local time on March 6 at a hotel before heading toward the beach.
Dominican authorities confirmed to the BBC that they received the family's request but did not provide further details. Police have been searching for her for over two weeks, considering the possibility that she may have drowned, though they have not ruled out foul play.
Who Is Sudiksha Konanki?
Konanki is a junior at the University of Pittsburgh, where she studies biology and chemistry. She is an Indian citizen and a permanent resident of the United States, living with her family in Chantilly, Virginia, in Loudoun County.
She had traveled to the Dominican Republic for spring break with five female friends, staying at a resort in Punta Cana, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office.
Where Was She Last Seen?
Konanki was last seen in the early hours of March 6. Surveillance footage shows her and a group of friends walking toward the beach.
According to Dominican police, she remained on the beach with one of the men in the group after the others returned to their hotel. That man, Joshua Riibe, is a senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.
Dominican President Luis Abinader stated in a recent news conference that Riibe reported being hit by a wave while on the beach with Konanki.
Riibe’s parents released a statement to CBS News expressing hope that Konanki is "found as soon as possible" and emphasizing their trust in a transparent and just investigation.
What Do Investigators Say?
The Dominican Republic’s national police confirmed receiving the family's request to declare Konanki dead but have not yet made a final determination.
Authorities say they have spent dozens of hours searching for her by air, land, and sea. Drones have been deployed to scan the area, with footage being analyzed using AI to detect objects in the ocean. Search teams continue to comb both water and land for any sign of her.
Investigators say they have not found evidence of foul play—there were no signs of violence or blood at the scene.
Meanwhile, the University of Pittsburgh released a statement saying it is working with U.S. federal agencies, including the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Department of Homeland Security, as well as local authorities, to assist in the search.
Konanki’s disappearance has raised concerns among both U.S. and Dominican officials, as her family and loved ones continue to seek answers.
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