Thank you to all who have assisted in the search to find Saniyya. Her father, a former member of the Harlem-based hip-hop group The Diplomats,used his social media presenceto get the word out about his daughters disappearance. Understandably, emotions are high right now, but I want to be clear that our department will not rest until Saniyya is found," Carey said in an updated statementreleased Saturday, after family expressed frustration about the pace of the investigation. During a news conference Friday, Dennis' family criticized police for not moving fast enough and stalling a search party. She may be caught in the jagged rocks there.". Family and supporters of missing Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis have been looking for leads in the case in Niagara Falls. Equally, when she did not return to the campus on Saturday, the school bore a responsibility regarding her safety, the familys statement said. Investigators later revealed that Dennis' phone pinged off of a cell tower near Niagara Falls State Park around 1:23 a.m. April 25. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I feel awful for the parents, he said. In the middle of that day, Flynn says Dennis had been in an argument with her boyfriend that ended with him breaking up with her. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. There is a possibility that we may never find a body, Flynn said, adding that Dennis may gotten caught in the jagged rocks near Niagara Falls. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. "We combed the whole park, even places where she was nowhere near, putting up flyers," Byrd said on Saturday. Her cellphone last pinged on April 25 at 1:23 a.m. in the area of Goat Island in Niagara Falls State Park, police said. It is unconscionable that he presented a speculative narrative as a factual one by calling a national press conference and falsely asserting he shared his findings with the family.. Saniyya Dennis, a Buffalo State College student, has been missing since she was captured on surveillance video leaving her residence hall on April 24. Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Her family members reported her missing to Buffalo State police on April 26, which prompted a widespread investigation. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Minutes after that text, her cellphone left the cellular network, meaning it was either powered off or destroyed, according to officials. The body, believed to be that of a missing Buffalo State College student, was found in a shallow grave Friday morning in a wooded area near Snow's Marina on the Lake Erie shoreline, police said . The family told reporters that they were alerted by one of Dennis' friends that she may have gotten on a bus to Niagara Park. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Some are going to say without a body, do youdefinitelyknow that she took her own life? Flynn continued. "Why does it take so long to get subpoenas to cellphone records? You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Missing Buffalo State student Saniyya Dennis. After talking for about an hour, Dennis later told him she was on the bus returning home, which, according to phone records, the DA said was not true. University police are continuing to ask anyone with information to come forward, and Saniyyas family has since offered a $10,000 reward for anything that could help bring her home. Market data provided by Factset. The family of Saniyya Dennis, a Buffalo State College sophomore who's been missing for over a week, pleaded with authorities and the public to help them in their search. She attempted to call him 59 and talked about killing herself, Flynn said. NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) People in Western New York are not giving up their search for Saniyya Dennis, the college student who went missing last week. While authorities have not recovered her body, they believe Dennis died by suicide based on the timeline of her last hours. The teen spent hours on the phone with Dennis and talked her down from her plan at one point, but she apparently followed through on her threat after hopping on a bus to the Niagara Falls Visitor Center. Missing Bronx college student Saniyya Dennis (family/officials), by: Lauren Cook, Evan Anstey/WIVB, Mark Sundstrom. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Legal Statement. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) The case of a missing Buffalo State student continues, it's been more than a week since Saniyya Dennis was last seen. Wilson Wong is a culture and trends reporter for NBC News Digital. Authorities are continuing their search for a missing New York college student who disappeared more than a week ago. or redistributed. She also spoke about dying by suicide with a male friend, he added. Saniyya Dennis, 19, was last seen on the SUNY Buffalo State College campus on April 24, the University Police Department (UPD) told CNN. Information can also be shared through the University Police anonymous tip line at (716) 878-3166, or by calling the NYS Missing Persons Clearinghouse at (800) 346-3543. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. The two remained on the phone for several hours before she later told the male friend she had reconsidered. IE 11 is not supported. ET, Dennis was seen leaving her dorm room at State University of New York College at Buffalo. Police say her cell phone was later pinged near Goat Island in Niagara Falls, which is why groups have narrowed their search to that area. Agencies working the case include: New York State Police, NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services Clearinghouse, NYS Park Police, City of Buffalo Police, City of Niagara Falls Police, Erie County Sheriffs Office, Erie Crime Analysis Center, Erie County District Attorneys Office, Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) Police, Niagara Regional Police, Amtrak Police, and the United States Secret Service. M issing for over a week, family and friends continue to search for 19-year-old Buffalo State student Saniyya Dennis. She also texted her friend, saying she wouldnt see him this summer. While the Erie County District Attorneys Office does not typically become involved in missing person cases unless there is evidence of criminality, we assisted in this multi-agency effort to find Saniyya at the request of SUNY Buffalo State College University Police. May 7, 2021 / 11:13 AM Around Midnight, Dennis texted her mother, telling her she loves her and that shell call her the next day. Dennis, 19, was last seen on April 24 leaving her residence hall around 11:30 p.m., according to University Police. Investigators believe that she may need medical attention and may still be in the western New York area or may have traveled to Yonkers, New York, just north of New York City. Around 12:18 a.m., the male friend warned in a text that he would call police if she did not call him in 30 seconds. This story has been shared 106,229 times. Buffalo State College Police Chief Peter Carey, told reporters that a K-9 search took place Friday afternoon and due to weather conditions they could not fly a helicopter to help with the search. "My daughter is a Black honor roll student at the college and has no tendency of doing nothing, Calvin Byrd, Dennis father, said. The statement challenged or refuted more than a dozen assertions laid out by Flynn during his news conference. About an hour after that phone conversation ended, Dennis threw personal items into a garbage can. Why does it take so long to get video footage of buses? She has dark brown hair and brown eyes. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. She was a mechanical engineer major. Around 1 a.m., Dennis took a Snapchat selfie near the Nikola Tesla monument. @DAErieCountyNY says #saniyyadennis parents are unaccepting their daughter committed suicide. Yesterday afternoon, members of my office met with the family of Saniyya Dennis to provide an update on the investigation into her disappearance. Discovery Company. The district attorney said Dennis had multiple conversations about suicide the day she disappeared and was captured by park cameras inside Niagara Falls State Park that night. Dennis, who is from the Bronx, is described as 5 feet, 3 inches tall, approximately 125 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. Julia Stevens has been searching for Saniyya, Its important to show up as a community and show this family that we care, that we will continue to be out here and we wont stop until we find Saniyya Dennis., #HappeningNow: a search party has gathered near Cave of the Winds in the effort to find missing 19-year-old Buff State student Saniyya Dennis. Saniyya Dennis, 19, was last seen on the SUNY Buffalo State College campus on April 24, the. "An exhaustive search and review of the evidence has. Authorities in New York believe that a missing Buffalo State University sophomore took her own life, but investigators have not found Saniyya Dennis' body. Dennis parents, multiple agencies and local residents had been involved in anearly two-week searchfor the student. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. IE 11 is not supported. My office and our partners in law enforcement have found no evidence of any criminality in this case. That evening, Dennis and her friend stayed on the phone together for about four hours. In the meantime, the family of Saniyya Dennis has traveled to Buffalo from New York City, and expressed their frustration Friday over the investigation so far. Ive finally had enough.. University Police is working with police agencies at the local, stateand federal level, Carey said. Wilson Wong is a culture and trends reporter for NBC News Digital. A portion of Rivers Avenue near Hayne Street is blocked off because of the crash . The 19-year-old was last seen leaving her dorm room at SUNY Buffalo State College on April 24, authorities said. University Police has circulated her information statewide to police agencies and hospitals through the New York State Missing Persons Clearinghouse. Also missing is 20-year-old Talia Esther Rosenbloom of Eugene, described as 5'7" tall, weighing 140 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. But that was not true, according to cell phone records. New pill cuts cholesterol, heart, In Chicago, adapting electric buses to winters challenges, Global race to boost electric vehicle range in cold, Ohio derailment tests Sen. 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Ivy Marie Gilbert added, posting it on Facebook is absolutely helpful and stuff but being local, its really helpful to actually get out here and do it.. Flynn did not say what those items were, but said they would make someone believe she wasnt planning to return to her dorm. "She was a good friend, a good person. Flynn said she got into an argument with her boyfriend, which ended with him breaking up with her. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 2:18 AM EDT, Mon May 3, 2021. Dennis continued to attempt contacting him, and said she was going to kill herself. Published Saniyya was last seen leaving her dorm on Buffalo States campus on April 24, but her cell phone was later pinged near Goat Island in Niagara Falls. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Legal Statement. "It appears that this poor girl took her own life," Erie County District Attorney John Flynn told reporters during a morning news conference. Julia Stevens, with Allies for Black Justice, organized several search parties in recent days focused on Goat Island, where police said Saniyya's phone last pinged at 1:23 a.m. on April 25, WKBWreported. MASON COUNTY, Wash. - The Washington State Patrol (WSP) is asking the public for help in finding a missing Indigenous woman considered to be at-risk. About 11 p.m. Saniyya Dennis, a 19-year-old sophomore from the Bronx, was last seen leaving her college dorm on April 24. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. As NBC News reports, Erie County District Attorney John Flynn told reporters during a news conference Thursday morning that he believes Dennis, 19, died of suicide. NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. On Wednesday community members continued to search for Dennis, a 19-year-old Buffalo State College student. Contact Crisis Services 24-hour hotline for support: 716-834-3131. With all due respect, a star in the midnight sky is more visible than Saniyya appears in that purported video.. Around 1 a.m., the teen took a Snapchat selfie near the Nikola Tesla monument with Niagara Falls in the background, according to Flynn. "This is not like her. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, help is available. Buffalo State Police said it obtained surveillance footage of Saniyya at the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) bus terminal in downtown Buffalo, WGRZ reported. No evidence of foul play was immediately detected, the University Police Department (UPD) at Buffalo State College said. My thoughts and prayers remain with Saniyyas family and friends during this difficult time. Saniyya Dennis, 19, is a sophomore who was. I feel awful that I dont have a conclusion, obviously.. The 19-year-old Buff State sophomore was last seen leaving an elevator in her dorm building the night of April 24. "The dogs came out yesterday, and today they had the helicopter for the search.". Striking, his post is a screenshot of what is alleged to be a snapchat from Saniyya. HANAHAN, S.C. (WCSC) - Police in Hanahan are searching for a 15-year-old girl who was reported missing on Tuesday. "My mother always says shes a creature of habit When she comes to visit my mother in the city or comes to visit our family she lets her know when shes running late or lets her know who shes going to be with, what time she expects to be home.". "We've never had a missing person case such as this we're experiencing now with Ms. Dennis," Carey said. (Source: WPXI/ROSS TOWNSHIP POLICE/CNN) BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) Thursday morning, Erie County District Attorney John Flynn provided an update on the disappearance of Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis. Bloodhounds later picked up the teens scent during an April 30 search on and around Goat Island, Flynn said, where she was seen on video early April 25. Investigators said her cellphone left the network about 1:20 a.m. April 25, which means it was either destroyed or powered off. It was unclear what the personal items were. "We want to make sure that her face is everywhere," Stevens told ABC Buffalo affiliate WKBW, "that everywhere you go in Niagara Falls you know to look out for this girl.". She was then spotted by park cameras along a trail at 12:17 a.m. on April 25 Flynn said this was the last time she was seen on video. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. According to the WSP, 49-year-old Denell Kelly . Her father, Calvin Byrd, has since traveled to Niagara Falls to search for his daughter. In a statement released earlier in the week, Buff State President Katherine Conway-Turner called Saniyya a lovely young woman with a bright future ahead. During a news conference on Friday, Dennis family members said it was uncharacteristic of her to suddenly disappear. If you or someone you know are struggling with suicidal thoughts,click here for resources. All rights reserved. A 19-year-old SUNY Buffalo State College sophomore has been missing for more than a week, according to the university and her family. If you or someone you know might be at risk of suicide, there is help. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. At 12:19 a.m., the male friend called her and they spoke for 45 minutes, Flynn said. These dismissive acts caused victim blaming and shaming. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Authorities are continuing their search for a missing New York college student who disappeared more than a week ago. If this was somebody else's kid, I think it wouldve happened like this," Calvin Byrd, Dennis's father, said at the news conference. They stopped picking up the scent near Goat Island, Flynn said. "It appears that this poor [] The day she disappeared,Dennishad an argument with her boyfriend that led to him breaking up with her,Flynnsaid. This is not of her nature," Saniyyas sister, Keyora Dennis, said at a recent press conference Friday. UPD and campus officials are in close consultation with Saniyyas family and are providing support during this difficult time, the campus police department said. Several minutes later, her phone left her cellular network. Saniyya Dennis, a Buffalo State College student, has been missing since she was captured on surveillance video leaving her residence hall on April 24. Katherine Conway-Turner, the president of Buffalo State College, expressed her support to Dennis' friends and family on Thursday. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) Thursday morning, Erie County District Attorney John Flynn provided an update on the disappearance of Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis. Niagara Falls was in the background. Saniyya Dennis, the New York college student who disappeared last month, died by apparent suicide, officials said Thursday. Rather, it is nothing more than a black dot shot from a distance. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. I feel awful for the parents, he said. Latisha Dennis says she will put up. Updated: 9:14 AM EDT May 6, 2021. / CBS New York. Why does it take so long to get video footage of buses?. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Buffalo State University Police says. If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide please call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text TALK to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources. BUFFALO, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- There's a tragic update on a missing college student from the Bronx. Im so done with my own life, and living it, the text read, according to WIVB. Julia Stevens went on to say, If Saniyya is out there and shes watching these efforts, if shes in danger or incapacitated we would say dont give up hope, we are leaving no stone unturned. Saniyya Dennis disappeared from SUNY Buffalo State College on April 24, officials said. The family chastised Flynn for putting forth a narrative that was an easy sell without considering alternative scenarios involving foul play. Multiple law enforcement agencies and numerous volunteers were involved in a search for Dennis following her disappearance. Prosecutors say Dennis' boyfriend was in New York City at the time and is not a suspect. Missing Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis is believed to have taken her own life. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. 4, 2023 at 12:11 PM PST | Updated: moments ago. UPD described Dennis as a 5 feet, 3 inches tall Black woman weighing 125 pounds. Dennis texted her mother at Niagara Falls, telling her she would call her the next day, but also sent a message to a friend indicating she wouldnt see him this coming summer, Flynn said. Missing SUNY Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis. Dennis, 19, was last seen on April 24 leaving her residence hall around 11:30 p.m., according to University Police. THE BRONX, N.Y. The family of Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis, who disappeared from campus two weeks ago, released a scathing statement Friday night refuting the local district attorneys assertion that the Bronx teen died by suicide. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. (Buffalo State College). We will be out here every single day for you until we find you because you deserve that.. Missing students are rare at Buffalo State. "I understand the desire for new details about this case is high, but to ensure the integrity of this multi-agency investigation, we are limited in our ability to share further information at this time.". Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Marianne Williamson opens long shot 2024 challenge, Officials provide update on fatal fire, cause still, Fix it! (Buffalo State College) Her. Mycalia Raine Wilson was last seen at approximately 11:35 p.m. on Tuesday night at the family home, police said. Vandergrift is a radio host for Wild 94.9, where Yi is a host as well. Updated: 11:33 PM EDT May 3, 2021 BUFFALO, N.Y. 2 On Your Side continues to ask the tough questions on the search for Saniyya Dennis, the missing Buffalo State student who hasn't been. Dennis, a sophomore at Buffalo State College, disappeared after leaving her dorm on April 24. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. (for youth and family crises): (716) 882-4357. 2023 Cable News Network. She was last seen. At this time, we believe that Saniyya traveled alone from the Buffalo State College campus by NFTA bus to Niagara Falls State Park where the evidence suggests that she took her own life during the early morning hours of Sunday, April 25, 2021. Family said she handed in a school assignment before catching a bus to Niagara Falls. The 19-year-old was last seen on April 24. You can watch DA Flynns full news conference below. "I can't leave if I didn't say I looked at every inch of this park," he told "Good Morning America." The teens parents, meanwhile, had demanded answers last week on why more wasnt being done to find the missing mechanical engineering major, the Buffalo News reported. Buffalo State University and its police did not perform a wellness check until almost two calendar days after Saniyyas disappearance and more than a business day after our formal request. Mr. Flynn purposefully placed Saniyya in a negative light as though she was a depraved stalker who harassed her boyfriend for attention, the family statement said. Market data provided by Factset. A missing New York college student who disappeared last month is believed to have died by suicide, authorities said Thursday. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Marianne Williamson opens long shot 2024 challenge, Officials provide update on fatal fire, cause still, Fix it! Hours later, Dennis told a friend she was going to jump off a bridge and took a selfie with Niagara Falls in the background. 14. Authorities are continuing their search for a missing New York college student who disappeared more than a week ago. Buffalo State remains in close consultation with and is supporting the Dennis family," Carey said in a statement this weekend. On Friday at 7 p.m., Mishealia Marie Meredith, 19, of Harrisburg, left a home where she. She has a good heart.. She was very focused on her studies, she said. We're all baffled as to what's going on., Keyora Dennis, Dennis' sister, said this was "not of her nature. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Buffalo State student is still missing, a week after she was last seen on campus. However, cellphone records showed that to not be true. A Buffalo State College student missing since last month may have thrown herself from Niagara Falls after her boyfriend broke up with her, authorities said Thursday. This is not of her nature.. Campus police are working with a variety of local, state and federal agencies to locate Dennis, according to UPD. Prosecutors say it appears 19-year-old Saniya Dennis took her own life. John Flynn, the district attorney in Erie County, said officials have not discovered the body of 19-year-old Saniyya Dennis but said "evidence suggests" she took her own life. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Odd, Flynn held his conference days before Mothers Day without any regard for the Dennis family, the statement said. There has been no cellphone electronic activity since then and no financial activity or other communication with family or friends, Buffalo State Police Chief Peter Carey said. Given these variables and the fact that Saniyyas body has not been discovered, we express great concerns about the handling of this case and the suicide narrative. Flynn said he provided details of the investigation to Dennis parents Wednesday. Information can also be shared through the University Police anonymous tip line at (716) 878-3166, or by calling the NYS Missing Persons Clearinghouse at (800) 346-3543, police said. Erie Countys Crisis Hotline is available 24 hours a day: 716-834-3131. Dennis, 19, was last seen leaving her dorm on April 24. For nearly two weeks, search parties have combed through Niagara Falls in the hopes of finding Saniyya Dennis. He added authorities may never find her body because of the rocks below the area where her scent was last picked up. "An exhaustive search and review of the evidence has been done and it appears that this poor girl took her own life," Flynn said in a news conference Thursday morning. The family demanded a federal investigation by the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. He then called her, and they spoke for about 45 minutes. 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Cameras last captured 19-year-old Saniyya Dennis leaving her dorm room, last Saturday night In that conversation, she had said she was reconsidering what she said about suicide, and was feeling better than she was earlier. Dennis, of Bronx, New York, is a college sophomore. The male friend called Dennis, who picked up and said she was going to jump off a bridge, according to the DA. As she was there, she received a text from a friend telling her to call him or else hell call police. Please enter valid email address to continue. "That's a possibility.". What do the orange, green dots on my iPhone mean? His screenshot of her alleged storyline is not dated and has no time, video or chat from her, the family statement said. This story has been shared 167,794 times. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. (Courtesy Dennis family) Flynn said on the afternoon of April 24, Dennis got into an argument with her boyfriend in New York City. Thats where a search party gathered early Wednesday evening in the latest hopes to find the young woman. But Flynn says her body may not be able to be recovered. Upon careful review and consideration of the allegations presented by District Attorney Flynn regarding the issues surrounding the disappearance of Saniyya Dennis, we respectfully disagree with his presentation and were shocked by his assertion that he shared information with our family regarding her disappearance and his findings of suicide.. Saniyya Dennis, 19, has been missing since Saturday night. The family of a SUNY Buffalo State College student who has been missing since Saturday, April 24 is asking the public for help in finding her. She was last seen leaving her . Saniyya Dennis is seen in this undated released by Buffalo State University Police to help locate, on May 1, 2021.