Missing U.S. Student Believed to Drown in Dominican Republic

The family of Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh junior who went missing during a spring break trip in the Dominican Republic, now believes she drowned. Konanki was last seen on March 6 at a beach in Punta Cana, prompting a search by both U.S. and Dominican authorities. Her parents have requested that Dominican authorities declare her dead to allow the family to begin the grieving process. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office has been collaborating with various U.S. federal agencies in the investigation, which is ongoing. Initially, the family considered other possibilities, such as kidnapping, but they have since come to terms with the belief that she has drowned. The family has asked for privacy during this difficult time as they cope with their loss.