The family of Sudiksha Konanki who has been missing since March 6 is asking police in the Dominican Republic to declare her dead.
The 20-year-old Indian American student from the University of Pittsburgh disappeared while on a beach with another student she met for the first time while on spring break.
The student, Joshua Riibe, who is the last known person to be with Konanki says the two struggled while in the water after being hit by large waves, but that he last saw her in waist deep water before he passed out on the beach after vomiting.
USA Today reports the family sent their request in a form of a letter.
The letter obtained by the New York Post reads in part: “Initiating this process will allow our family to begin the grieving process and address matters related to her absence. While no declaration can truly ease our grief, we trust that this step will bring some closure and enable us to honor her memory.”
The letter also encourages authorities to release Riibe who has been in detention at hotel by police.
“The individual last seen with her is cooperating with the investigation, and no evidence of foul play has been found,” they wrote.
There has been no comment from authorities.
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