Family of Missing University Student Sudiksha Konanki Requests Official Declaration of Death for Closure

The family of Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student who went missing during a spring break trip to Punta Cana, has requested that authorities declare her deceased. This request comes nearly two weeks after her disappearance, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia. Konanki, 20, was last seen in the early hours of March 6 on a beach near the resort town’s Riu República.

The family has formally reached out to both the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and the Dominican Republic National Police with their request. A spokesperson for the Dominican Republic National Police, Diego Pesqueira, confirmed that the family submitted a letter asking for a declaration of death. Similarly, Thomas Julia, a spokesperson for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, stated that the family provided a written request to their office as well.

In their communications, the family expressed gratitude to the investigators for their efforts in the search for Konanki. They also conveyed a desire for closure following her disappearance. Despite the ongoing investigation, the family is seeking to move forward by having her officially declared deceased.

Efforts to reach the Konanki family for further comments were unsuccessful as they did not immediately respond to requests from news outlets. The circumstances surrounding Konanki’s disappearance remain under investigation as authorities continue to search for answers.