The student, Sudiksha Konanki, 20, was on a spring break trip to Punta Cana when she disappeared earlier this month, leading to a massive search effort and an investigation.

The parents of a U.S. college student who vanished almost two weeks ago in the resort town of Punta Cana have asked authorities to declare her legally dead.

A man who investigators believe was the last person to see missing US college student Sudiksha Konanki alive appeared in a Dominican Republic court Tuesday to ask it to grant him freedom, arguing Dominican authorities have inappropriately restrained his movements without charges since the 20-year-old woman’s disappearance.