The parents of a missing University of Pittsburgh student, who vanished while on Spring Break in the Dominican Republic, are seeking to have her legally declared dead—for a heartbreaking reason.
Sudiksha Konanki, 20, disappeared earlier this month while vacationing with friends. She was last seen in the early hours of March 6 with a “person of interest,” and her parents, Subbarayudu and Sreedevi Konanki, believe she drowned.
“It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we are coming to terms with the fact that our daughter has drowned. This is incredibly difficult for us to process,” her father said in a statement.
“We kindly ask you to keep our daughter in your prayers. We still have two young children to care for, and they are 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.”
Despite no body being found, her devastated parents have formally requested that authorities in the Dominican Republic issue a legal declaration of her death.
In a letter obtained by CNN, the Konankis stated that investigators also believe Sudiksha drowned and that “no evidence of foul play has been found.” Given this conclusion, they have asked police to proceed with the necessary legal steps.
“We understand that certain legal procedures must be followed and are prepared to comply with any necessary formalities or documentation,” the letter reads.
The family explained that having Sudiksha officially declared deceased would allow them to “begin the grieving process and address matters related to her absence.”
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Legal experts note that such a declaration would not only provide emotional closure but also allow the family to settle her estate. Personal injury and criminal defense attorney Phillip DiLucente pointed out that it could also open the possibility of legal action, though the Konanki family has not indicated any intention to pursue a lawsuit.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, where the family resides, is supporting their request. However, the final decision rests with Dominican authorities.
Sheriff’s spokesperson Thomas Julia told CNN: “That still does not confirm exactly what happened, and we may never know with certainty. But Sheriff (Mike) Chapman believes the investigation in the DR should be completed before the case is closed.”
Under Dominican law, a person is not typically declared dead without either a body or evidence of a crime. Dominican attorney Julio Cury explained that in the absence of both, an official declaration would require special approval from the country’s Congress or president.
For now, the Konanki family remains in limbo, hoping for the legal recognition they need to begin the difficult process of moving forward.
