Parents seek legal death declaration for Sudiksha Konanki

The parents of Sudiksha Konanki, a missing Indian student, want her officially declared dead to find closure. They believe a legal declaration recognizing her death from accidental drowning will help them grieve and move forward. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office in Virginia said they support the family's wishes. Sudiksha was last seen on March 6 at Punta Cana beach in the Dominican Republic. Authorities have not found her body. Investigators suspect she drowned, but her death has not been confirmed, and the case remains open. The final decision about declaring her dead lies with Dominican authorities. The Konanki family sent a letter asking for this legal process. They hope to settle financial matters, such as college savings and insurance. Until a death certificate is issued, these issues are unresolved. Legal experts note that, in the Dominican Republic, declaring someone dead without a body is complicated and requires special approval. Sudiksha was a student at the University of Pittsburgh. She arrived in the Dominican Republic with friends on March 3. Surveillance footage shows her drinking at a hotel bar before heading to the beach. She went with a group and was last seen on camera around 4:15 am. By 5 am, everyone but Sudiksha had returned. Joshua Riibe was the last person known to be with Sudiksha. Authorities have confiscated his passport for questioning, but he is not considered a suspect. Riibe shared details about trying to rescue her after they were caught in a wave. He has since been released but remains under investigation, and both U.S. and Dominican authorities treat this as a missing persons case.