The parents of missing student Sudiksha Konanki are demanding that she be declared dead after an extensive search failed to yield any clues about her whereabouts.
Konanki, a 20-year-old student from the University of Pittsburgh from Loudoun County, went missing while on vacation in Punta Cana on March 6, 2025.
According to authorities, Konanki was last seen around 4:15 a.m. near the entrance to a beach at the resort where he was staying. He was seen with someone on CCTV footage, but after that he disappeared.
There was a massive operation in the air, land, and ocean led by the Dominican Republic National Police along with the FBI and other agencies.
On Tuesday, March 18, the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) confirmed that Konanki's family had asked Dominican Republic officials to declare him dead, believing he drowned.
Sheriff Michael Chapman said:
"The loss of Sudiksha Konanki is a tragedy, and we cannot imagine how painful this must be for her family."
Although there has been no final decision from authorities in the Dominican Republic, LCSO said they will support Konanki's family's decision and will continue to provide assistance to them.
""We thank the FBI and the Dominican National Police for their efforts and cooperation in this investigation," Chapman added."
