Missing Pitt student on spring break in the Dominican Republic? Foul play?

[CallMeKate]

How long must a person be missing in the U.S. before they can be declared dead? I thought is was longer than this young girl has been missing. Maybe seven years?

Maybe they're going for a certificate of presumed death since people witnessed what happened. That wouldn't need to wait 7 years... although a "regular" missing person case is 7 years.

 

[Aunt Bea]

I thought that it was odd that her family wanted her declared dead.

It made me wonder if there was some life insurance involved.