The family of missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki has asked police in the Dominican Republic to declare her dead.
Dominican Republic National Police spokesperson Diego Pesqueira told NBC News that her family sent the agency a letter requesting a declaration of death.
Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old student at the University of Pittsburgh and an Indian citizen, vanished before dawn on March 6 in the resort town of Punta Cana. Authorities are scouring the waters in case she drowned.
Minnesota student Joshua Riibe has not been named as a suspect but has been detained by Dominican police and is believed to be the last person to see Konanki.
Dominican authorities confiscated Riibe’s passport Friday as part of the investigation, his attorneys told NBC News. On Sunday, he and his attorney met with officials on the beach.
>>>Search for Pitt student missing in Dominican Republic intensifies
Sheriff Michael Chapman of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Viriginia sent Channel 11 the following statement:
“The disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki is tragic, and we cannot imagine the grief her family has been feeling. We have supported them throughout to ensure a rigorous, wide-ranging investigation. We have also met personally with them and continue to provide emotional support through our Victim Advocate Unit.
Sudiksha’s family has expressed their belief that she drowned. While a final decision to make such a declaration rests with authorities in the Dominican Republic, we will support the Konanki family in every way possible as we continue to review the evidence and information made available to us in the course of this investigation.
We thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Dominican National Police for their dedication to this investigation and collaboration.”
On Monday, Riibe’s attorney officially requested his release. A judge is expected to issue a ruling on Tuesday, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the information.
According to the transcript of an interview with prosecutors, reported by Dominican media as well as NBC and Telemundo, Riibe told police he was drinking with Konanki on the beach and they were kissing in waist-deep water when they were pulled out to sea by a strong tide. Riibe said he was a former lifeguard and swam her into shore.
He told investigators he vomited upon reaching the beach and that Konanki said she was going to fetch her things. When he looked up, she was gone. He said he was later surprised to hear of her disappearance.
Riibe’s parents have accused Dominican officials of detaining him “under irregular conditions” without translators or legal counsel, saying he has been confined to a hotel room with police surveillance for more than a week.
They said Riibe, a senior at St. Cloud University, has been repeatedly taken to the police station and interrogated, adding that he has “fully cooperated” with police.
The statement on Friday by Albert and Tine Riibe provided no details about Konanki’s disappearance or their son’s connection to her. His parents said the family has retained a lawyer to ensure his rights are protected.
Dominican public prosecutors have not responded to the statement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is also investigating Konanki’s disappearance.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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