The family of Sudiksha Konanki, an Indian student who has gone missing, wishes for their daughter to be legally declared deceased in order to "find closure," as reported by authorities to CNN. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, where the Konanki family resides, indicated, "It aligns with the desires of Ms. Konanki’s grieving parents to have Dominican law enforcement formally recognize their daughter's accidental drowning." The responsibility for the final decision lies with officials in the Dominican Republic. Since her disappearance on March 6 from a beach in Punta Cana, her body has not yet been recovered. In a letter shared with CNN, the Konanki family expressed that starting the legal proceedings would assist them in their mourning and in managing associated affairs. Investigators are of the opinion that she drowned, and with no evidence of foul play, they have encouraged officials to "move forward with the legal declaration of her death."

Sheriff Mike Chapman stated that, while it's believed Ms. Konanki drowned, her death remains unverified, and the investigation is still ongoing. Authorities in the Dominican Republic continue to look into the matter, and legal experts mention that declaring someone dead in the absence of a body poses significant challenges within the country. Attorney Julio Cury noted that such a declaration necessitates specific consent from Congress or the presidency. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office has provided the family with help in navigating this process, including legal procedures if needed. Personal injury and criminal defense attorney Phillip DiLucente remarked that the family's request likely stems from a desire for closure, emphasizing, "From the standpoint of parents, they wish to honor their child and have that respect."

A legal declaration of death would also enable the family to resolve financial issues, such as college savings accounts and insurance policies, which remain in a state of uncertainty until a death certificate is issued. Should the family decide to pursue litigation, this declaration would inform the type of lawsuit and potential damages, even though the Konanki family has not signaled any intention to file a suit. In a heartfelt interview with Fox News on Tuesday, Ms. Konanki’s father expressed, "With profound sorrow and a heavy heart, we are beginning to accept that our daughter has drowned. This is extremely challenging for us to comprehend," and he requested prayers for their family. Sudiksha Konanki, a student at the University of Pittsburgh, traveled to Punta Cana on March 3 with five friends. Surveillance cameras recorded her at the Riu Republica Hotel bar before she made her way to the beach with a group that included Joshua Riibe, a 'person of interest.' Footage shows them entering the beach at 4:15 am, and by 5 am, all of the group had returned except for Ms. Konanki.

In the Dominican Republic, officials have taken possession of the passport belonging to Mr. Riibe, the individual last seen with Ms. Konanki. He underwent an extensive interview lasting more than six hours, yet he is not regarded as a suspect. During his fourth round of questioning, Mr. Riibe recounted an unsuccessful effort to save her after they were swept away by a wave. On Wednesday, he was released from custody, although his passport is still retained by the authorities. The 22-year-old, who resides in Iowa and studies at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, claimed that he was held without any official charges and expressed feeling mistreated throughout the investigation. The inquiry is ongoing, with both American and Dominican officials treating this matter as a case of a missing person instead of a criminal investigation.