The parents of a US student missing in the Dominican Republic for nearly two weeks have reportedly asked police on the island to declare her dead.
Sudiksha Konanki had been in the country during spring break when she was said to have disappeared on 6 March while walking along a beach in Punta Cana, according to the local civil defence service.
Despite extensive searches, the 20-year-old has still not been found.
Authorities are scouring the waters in case she drowned.
Her family was reported to have sent police a letter, requesting a declaration of death.
Dominican Republic authorities said Ms Konanki was originally from India.
NBC News reported she lived in Loudoun County, Virginia, with her family and studied at the University of Pittsburgh.
Efforts to find the young woman have included the use of drones, helicopters, the navy, as well as national and tourist police.
Last known movements
After a trip to the beach with friends, Ms Konanki reportedly stayed behind with people she met on the island before later vanishing, the US outlet reported.
It was added that the last person thought to have seen her was 22-year-old Joshua Riibe.
The Minnesota student has been detained by local police, but has not been named as a suspect.
Authorities on the island have reportedly said no one is considered a suspect in the disappearance.
US authorities echoed that, reportedly adding that it was a missing person’s case – not a criminal investigation.
Image: Drones were deployed as part of the ongoing search effort. Pic: Defensa civil
Image: Some of the search team at the beach where Ms Konanki was last seen. Pic: Defensa civil
Mr Riibe told police he was drinking with Konanki on the beach and they were kissing in waist-deep water when they were pulled out to sea by a strong tide.
Mr Riibe said he was a former lifeguard and swam her into shore.
Citing a transcript of an interview with authorities, NBC News reported Mr Riibe said: “I kept trying to get her to breathe, but that didn’t allow me to breathe all the time, and I swallowed a lot of water.”
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Mr Riibe was reported to have said he got her back to shore before she disappeared.
“The last time I saw her, I asked if she was OK. I didn’t hear her answer. I looked around and didn’t see anyone. I thought she’d grabbed her things and left,” he reportedly added.
Mr Riibe’s parents accused Dominican officials of detaining him “under irregular conditions” without translators or legal assistance, claiming he has been confined to a hotel room with police surveillance for more than a week.
