The parents of Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student who vanished while on spring break in the Dominican Republic, have spoken publicly for the first time since their daughter's disappearance.
Konanki was last seen in the early hours of March 6, taking a walk on the beach near Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana.
After 12 days with no sign of her, her parents, Subbarayudu and Sreedevi Konanki, have said they believe she drowned and are requesting an official declaration of death.
A Family in Grief
Speaking to reporters on March 18, Subbarayudu Konanki asked for continued prayers as they struggle to accept what happened.
"We kindly ask you to keep our daughter in your prayers. This is incredibly difficult for us to process," he said in a video shared by NBC News.
Sreedevi Konanki broke down in tears as her husband explained that authorities believe Sudiksha was caught in dangerous ocean conditions at the time of her disappearance.
"We believe 100% in the authorities' investigation. The conditions and the waves of the ocean…" Subbarayudu said, confirming that officials told them she likely drowned.
Seeking Closure
The family has submitted a formal request to Dominican authorities, asking for a death declaration. In a letter obtained by PEOPLE, they expressed the need to begin the grieving process.
"Initiating [the death declaration process] will allow our family to begin the grieving process and address matters related to her absence," the letter stated. "While no declaration can truly ease our grief, we trust that this step will bring some closure and enable us to honor her memory."
Investigation Findings
Authorities have been actively searching for Konanki since March 6, though her body has not been found.
Investigators say her clothes were discovered on a lounge chair on the beach, but there were no signs of violence. Dominican police confirmed the discovery of the clothing but did not provide additional details.
At one point, 22-year-old Joshua Riibe—believed to be the last person to see Konanki—was questioned by authorities. However, he was never named as a suspect.
"Both sides of the authorities also clarified that the person of interest is not a suspect from the beginning," Subbarayudu said.
Conflicting Reports
Initially, some U.S. officials were hesitant to confirm the drowning theory. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) previously stated, “There is no evidence or confirmation of a drowning at this time and the case is being aggressively investigated.”
However, Dominican investigators told ABC News that Konanki was likely swept away by a strong wave while swimming with another person—a claim that some questioned as speculative.
Moving Forward
LCSO spokesperson Thomas Julia confirmed that the Konanki family met with the sheriff’s office on March 18, expressing their gratitude for the investigation and seeking closure.
"I can confirm that the LCSO met with the family yesterday and received a letter seeking closure and expressing gratitude for the investigation and support of our agency and others," Julia said.
Konanki, an Indian citizen and Virginia resident, was traveling with five other female students from the University of Pittsburgh when she disappeared.
Her family, still reeling from the loss, hopes to honor her memory while awaiting official confirmation of her presumed death.