Missing Student Sudiksha Konanki's Parents Want 20-Year-Old Daughter Declared Dead

The parents of missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki want their 20-year-old daughter declared dead.

The couple have asked Dominican authorities if they can declare their missing daughter dead, highlighting the struggles of the legalities of a missing person case. Investigators handling the matter believe that Konanki drowned and that they did not find any evidence of foul play.

Missing Student's Parents Want Daughter Declared Dead

The parents have asked the police to proceed with the legal declaration of their daughter's death. However, the investigation into the 20-year-old's demise conducted by the Dominican Republic National Police was still ongoing as of Thursday.

A letter written by Konanki's parents noted that they understood that certain legal procedures need to be followed. They also said that they are prepared to comply with any necessary formalities or documentation regarding their daughter's death.

They revealed that initiating the process of declaring their daughter's death will allow their family to start the grieving process and address other matters related to her absence. The Loudon County Sheriff's Office in Virginia replied to the parents' wishes, according to CNN.

It said that while it supports the couple's wishes to declare their daughter's death, it noted that it was up to Dominican Republic authorities to make that particular determination. Sheriff's spokesperson Thomas Julia said that it still does not confirm exactly what happened to Konanki.

Police in the Dominican Republic typically do not declare a person deceased without first finding either a body or evidence of a crime. In Konanki's case, investigators have yet to find either of these so far.

The idea of declaring a person's death without a body would require a special law by the country's Congress or the president. The website of the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic noted that it needs an original local death certificate to prepare a Consular Report of Death Abroad, Yahoo News reported.

A Person's Declaration of Death

On the other hand, in Virginia, a person can be presumed dead after disappearance in several scenarios under the commonwealth's law. Under one provision of the law, a person can be presumed dead after seven years from their absence.

The situation comes as the Iowa man who was the last person to see Konanki before she disappeared was hauled aside by U.S. border agents on arrival to Puerto Rico. The individual was identified as 22-year-old Joshua Riibe, who was questioned at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan on Wednesday.

Dominican Republic officials named Riibe a person of interest as they continue to search for the whereabouts of Konanki. He was seen walking with the 20-year-old student toward the beach at 4:15 p.m. the day Konanki was last seen on footage, as per MSN.