Parents of Pittsburgh student missing in Caribbean seek death certificate

By Paul Mathiasen

The parents of an Indian-born student from a U.S. university who went missing earlier this month from a popular tourist resort in the Dominican Republic have asked police to declare their daughter legally deceased, according to a letter released by a police source on Monday.

The investigation into the case remains open.

Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old pre-med student at the University of Pittsburgh, went missing on March 6 - two days before an international day of activism for women's rights - during a spring break trip to Punta Cana.

Konanki had arrived in the Caribbean nation three days earlier and had been staying in an upscale hotel on the eastern coast. She was last seen in early-morning surveillance footage making her way to the nearby beach with a group of friends.

"Following an extensive search, Dominican authorities have concluded that Sudiksha is believed to have drowned ... the individual last seen with her is cooperating with the investigation, and no evidence of foul play has been found," the letter said.

"Given these circumstances, and after much deliberation, we request that the police department proceed with the legal declaration of her death," it added.

Shortly after Konanki's disappearance, which sparked an Interpol alert, the Indian Embassy in the Dominican Republic said it was "extending all assistance in coordination with government authorities."

Asked about the investigation in a weekly press conference on Monday, President Luis Abinader said local authorities were collaborating with officials from the United States, including from the FBI.

"The investigation is ongoing," he said. "We trust it will have a result in due time."

The Dominican Republic hosted over 11 million tourists last year - around the same as its own population and making it one of the most visited destinations in the Americas.

The U.S. advises "increased caution" for travelers to the country and the FBI on Monday urged spring break tourists to be vigilant.