'While no declaration can ease our grief...' Parents of missing US student express heartbreak

Dominican Republic: The parents of a US college student who disappeared nearly two weeks ago in Punta Cana have asked authorities to declare her legally dead.

In a letter to Dominican police dated Monday, Subbarayudu and Sreedevi Konanki stated that after an extensive search, local authorities believe that their daughter, Sudiksha, a 20-year-old student at the University of Pittsburgh, drowned.

“Initiating this process will allow our family to begin the grieving process and address matters related to her absence,” they wrote.

“While no declaration can truly ease our grief, we trust that this step will bring some closure and enable us to honour her memory.”

A police official, who was not authorised to speak about the case, confirmed on Tuesday that authorities had received the letter.

Officials in the US respond

Michael Chapman, sheriff of Loudoun County in Virginia, where the Konankis live, issued a statement on Tuesday, saying that officials have been working with Dominican authorities and continue to review evidence in the case.

“The disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki is tragic, and we cannot imagine the grief her family has been feeling,” he said.

“Sudiksha’s family has expressed their belief that she drowned. While a final decision to make such a declaration rests with authorities in the Dominican Republic, we will support the Konanki family in every way possible.”

Disappearance at the beach

Sudiksha Konanki and five female friends had travelled to the Caribbean nation on 3 March for spring break. Police said she disappeared at a beach near her hotel before dawn on 6 March.

Authorities have interviewed those who were with Konanki before she vanished, including Joshua Riibe, a senior at St. Cloud University in Minnesota. Riibe has been detained by Dominican police and is believed to be the last person to see Konanki. However, he has not been named as a suspect.

Judge orders release of witness

On Tuesday, a judge ordered Riibe’s release, stating that he can cooperate with authorities without being detained.

“All parties say that he has cooperated in everything that has been asked of him,” Judge Edwin Rijo said, adding that Riibe is a witness and, as such, cannot be detained.

Riibe appeared in court on Tuesday afternoon following a request from his attorney for his release. Due to the large number of journalists covering the hours-long hearing, it was moved to a larger courtroom.

Before the ruling, prosecutors informed the judge that Riibe was not under arrest and was free to move around the hotel where he was staying. They stated that Riibe had told them he lost his passport. However, Riibe told the court that officials had seized his passport and mobile phone.

“I really want to be able to go home and talk to my family, give them hugs,” Riibe told the judge via a translator. “I understand that I’m here to help. I’ve done that. It’s been 10 days.”

Riibe’s statement to investigators

According to a transcript of an interview with prosecutors, reported by Dominican media as well as NBC and Telemundo, Riibe told police that he was drinking with Konanki on the beach and that they were kissing in the ocean when they got caught in a current. He stated that he was a former lifeguard and had helped bring her ashore.

He told investigators that he vomited upon reaching the beach and that Konanki said she was going to fetch her belongings. When he looked up, she was gone. He said he was later surprised to hear of her disappearance.

In their letter, the Konankis wrote that “the individual” last seen with their daughter is cooperating and that no evidence of foul play has been found.

Sudiksha Konanki was born in India and later became a US permanent resident.

AP