It's a phenomenon experienced by the families of missing people when a body is never found, experts say: grief without certainty.

The parents of missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki have asked for Dominican authorities to declare their daughter dead. Their request highlights the heartbreaking realities of losing a child and handling the legalities of a missing person case.

Joshua Riibe told a court that he has assisted with search efforts and has received support from Konanki's family, who believes she drowned.