CHANTILLY, Va. (Diya TV) — The family of Sudiksha Konanki, the 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student who went missing while on a spring break vacation in the Dominican Republic, has said they are accepting the fact that their daughter has drowned. They are now asking authorities to officially declare her dead so they can start the grieving process.
Sudiksha was last spotted on March 6 at Punta Cana’s Riu Republica Resort. Security cameras caught her walking towards the beach early in the morning. Her body has not been found despite thorough search operations by local authorities.
In a statement, her father, Subbarayudu Konanki, conveyed the family’s deep grief: “It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we are coming to terms with the fact that our daughter has drowned.” He further stated that starting the process of death declaration would enable the family to start grieving and sort out issues regarding her absence.
The Dominican authorities have pointed out that there were strong ocean currents and huge waves during the time Sudiksha went missing, and they suspect that she would have drowned. Nothing to indicate foul play has been discovered so far, and the investigation is ongoing, with the help of the U.S. authorities, including the FBI.
The last person spotted with Sudiksha, Joshua Riibe, has been assisting the police with the investigation and is not a suspect. A judge in the Dominican Republic has just adjudicated that Riibe, who was being held in custody for the duration of the inquiry, can go back to the United States.
Sudiksha’s vanishing has personally touched her friends and family. One of her family friends said that her presumed death was the “saddest thing” that could have befallen her parents. In seeking closure, the Konanki family has asked to be left alone to cope with their loss and take care of their remaining children. They have also appreciated the sympathy that has been offered during this trying period.
The Pitt community is mourning the loss of Sudiksha, who is remembered as a strong pre-med student with a promising future. Students who have been impacted by this tragedy can receive counseling services.
