Who is Sudiksha Konanki? What to know about American college student's disappearance in Dominican Republic
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PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic — The parents of a missing University of Pittsburgh spring breaker have asked Dominican police for a declaration of death nearly two weeks after she vanished from a five-star resort in the beach town of Punta Cana, telling authorities they accept the story of the lone publicly known eyewitness.

Subbarayudu and SreeDevi Konanki are not disputing the story of Joshua Riibe, a 22-year-old Iowa man and fellow spring breaker who is believed to be the last person who saw their daughter alive, according to a letter they sent to Dominican police on Monday. Her father had previously asked police to investigate all possibilities.

Sudiksha Konanki, 20, vanished on March 6 after she went to the beach with seven other people around 4:15 a.m., according to surveillance video. Most of her group was seen coming back around 6 a.m., leaving her alone with Riibe, though he came back without her hours later.

Konanki’s family did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter, which has been obtained by Fox News.

The beach area at the Riu Republica Resort

The beach area at the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. (Courtesy: D’Lani Sweeney)

In a leaked transcript of an interview with police, he allegedly told detectives he last saw her on the beach after they were both pulled offshore in a strong current.

Riibe said after struggling back to land, he last saw her walking away in knee-deep water, and then he vomited and fell asleep on a chair, according to a transcript obtained by Fox News. 

On Monday, his attorneys filed a writ of habeas corpus, challenging his de facto detention in the country. He has been holed up in the Riu Republica resort since Konanki vanished. They were both staying there for spring break vacations when they met.

Riibe is not accused of a crime, but authorities confiscated his passport while investigating his version of events.

A hearing on the habeas petition is expected to be held Tuesday afternoon, sources said, but the timing could change.

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