This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Dennis, who is from the Bronx, is described as 5 feet, 3 inches tall, approximately 125 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. All rights reserved. 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. Missing Buffalo State student Saniyya Dennis. While authorities have not located the 19-year-old's body, they were able to reach that conclusion based on a timeline of her last hours. Niagara Falls was in the background. Officials are asking anyone with information regarding the investigation to contact the University Police Department at Buffalo State College. 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. 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. Investigators initially said she may have remained in the area or traveled to Yonkers, near New York City, a news release, updated on April 28, said. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The district attorney and officials indicated they believe Dennis never left Niagara Falls State Park. Cameras last captured 19-year-old Saniyya Dennis leaving her dorm room, last Saturday night (Buffalo State College) Her. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Contact Crisis Services 24-hour hotline for support: 716-834-3131. A 19-year-old SUNY Buffalo State College sophomore has been missing for more than a week, according to the university and her family. 2023 Cable News Network. Authorities are searching for a New York college sophomore who disappeared over a week ago. 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. 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. CNN Authorities are searching for a New York college sophomore who disappeared over a week ago. "Those of us who met Saniyya know her as a bright honors student and a beautiful young woman with a big heart and a promising future in her field (mechanical engineering technology). Minutes after that, her cell phone left the cellular network, meaning it was either powered off or destroyed. No all I can do is present you everything I have.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Dennis, of Bronx, New York, is a college sophomore. 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. Shortly after, Flynn said, she was captured on campus surveillance video leaving her dorm. Dennis called her boyfriend, who was in New York City at the time, 59 times in the next several hours, but he didnt pick up. Around 1 a.m., the teen took a Snapchat selfie near the Nikola Tesla monument with Niagara Falls in the background, according to Flynn. He then called her, and they spoke for about 45 minutes. Phillys zombie drug tranq already in NYC, How to report no heat in NYC: Resources for tenants, Rising rent in NYC: Heres what tenants need to know, Suicide prevention and mental health resources, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. All evidence indicates that Saniyya ended her own life, but the investigation into her disappearance will not be closed until she is found. Dennis family also alleged the college minimized her disappearance as nonurgent conflicting with the district attorneys assertion she died by suicide and accused Flynn of misrepresenting evidence during his news conference, including the video confirming she was in Niagara Falls State Park. Multiple law enforcement agencies and numerous volunteers were involved in a search for Dennis following her disappearance. Authorities are continuing their search for a missing New York college student who disappeared more than a week ago. Saniyya Dennis, a Buffalo State College student, has been missing since she was captured on surveillance video leaving her residence hall on April 24. / CBS New York. M issing for over a week, family and friends continue to search for 19-year-old Buffalo State student Saniyya Dennis. 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. All of this information was provided to Dennis parents on Wednesday afternoon. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. The male friend called Dennis, who picked up and said she was going to jump off a bridge, according to the DA. It appears this poor girl took her own life, Flynn says. On Friday at 7 p.m., Mishealia Marie Meredith, 19, of Harrisburg, left a home where she. The day she disappeared,Dennishad an argument with her boyfriend that led to him breaking up with her,Flynnsaid. This is not like her, Dennis sister said at the press conference Friday, CNN affiliate WKBW reported. 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. The family also raised issues with the Snapchat post Flynn referenced and suggested it could have been doctored. Authorities are continuing their search for a missing New York college student who disappeared more than a week ago. Shortly after throwing those personal items away, her bus card was swiped at a nearby bus. Several minutes later, her phone left her cellular network. Our one and only goal in this investigation is to locate Saniyya and reconnect her with her family, UPD Chief Peter Carey said in a statement Saturday. He is a native of Fremont. "We combed the whole park, even places where she was nowhere near, putting up flyers," Byrd said on Saturday. University Police said it is working with the family and several other agencies in its search, including the City of Niagara Falls Police, Erie County Sheriffs Office and Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) Police. No evidence of foul play was immediately detected, the University Police Department (UPD) at Buffalo State College said. "My daughter is a Black honor roll student at the college and has no tendency of doing nothing, Calvin Byrd, Dennis father, said. 2:18 AM EDT, Mon May 3, 2021. Carey said during a news conference Friday that investigators have found no cell phone, electronic or financial activity since Dennis disappeared. 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. 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. Saniyya Dennis, the New York college student who disappeared last month, died by apparent suicide, officials said Thursday. 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. My office and our partners in law enforcement have found no evidence of any criminality in this case. This story has been shared 167,794 times. 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! University Police has circulated her information statewide to police agencies and hospitals through the New York State Missing Persons Clearinghouse. Rather, it is nothing more than a black dot shot from a distance. That evening, Dennis and her friend stayed on the phone together for about four hours. Milford . Saniyya Dennis, 19, was last seen leaving her dorm room at the SUNY Buffalo State College more than a week ago on April 24, authorities said. It appears that this poor girl took her own life,Erie County District Attorney John Flynnsaidat a news conferenceThursday morning. Investigators later revealed that Dennis' phone pinged off of a cell tower near Niagara Falls State Park around 1:23 a.m. April 25. appreciated. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. All rights reserved. However, cellphone records showed that to not be true. As a father of five, this is difficult.. Saniyya Dennis is seen in this undated released by Buffalo State University Police to help locate, on May 1, 2021. 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. FBI JOINS SEARCH FOR MISSING VIRGINIA BOY, 2, LURED FROM CHURCH BY UNKNOWN ABDUCTOR, "Our one and only goal in this investigation is to locate Saniyya and reconnect her with her family. UPD described Dennis as a 5 feet, 3 inches tall Black woman weighing 125 pounds. or redistributed. 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. May 8, 2021 / 8:30 AM Equally, when she did not return to the campus on Saturday, the school bore a responsibility regarding her safety, the familys statement said. The last time Dennis was seen on video was around 12:17 a.m. She was seen on park cameras on the bridge along Goat Island Road. "I can't leave if I didn't say I looked at every inch of this park," he told "Good Morning America." Anyone with information is asked to contact Buffalo State Police at (716) 878-6333. We will be out here every single day for you until we find you because you deserve that.. Prosecutors say it appears 19-year-old Saniya Dennis took her own life. Officials: Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis 'took her own life', U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Desperate for any leads, her dad, also known as rapper 40 Cal,offered a cash rewardin a caption of one of his Instagram posts. Saniyya Dennis, 19, has been missing since Saturday night. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? But that was not true, according to cell phone records. 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. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. I feel awful for the parents, he said. Thank you to all who have assisted in the search to find Saniyya. Saturday, the search for her continued, with family and friends again canvassing. She will forever be a member of our Buffalo State family," Conway-Turner added. Calvin Byrd, Dennis' father, told NBC affiliate WGRZ that the experience was a "nightmare.". Saniyya, originally from the Bronx in New York City, is described as a Black female who is 5-foot-3,weighs about125 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. 14. Saniyya Dennis, 19, was last seen leaving her dorm room at the SUNY Buffalo . Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text a crisis counselor at 741741, or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Saniyya Dennis, 19, was last seen leaving her dorm room at the SUNY Buffalo State College on April 24, the University Police Department said in a news release. But Flynn says her body may not be able to be recovered. Saniyya Dennis, 19, was last seen leaving her dorm room at the SUNY Buffalo State College on April 24, the University Police Department said in a news release. She was last seen. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Striking, his post is a screenshot of what is alleged to be a snapchat from Saniyya. "It appears that this poor [] If you or someone you know might be at risk of suicide, there is help. Buffalo State remains in close consultation with and is supporting the Dennis family," Carey said in a statement this weekend. Her boyfriend was in New York City the entire time, and is not considered a suspect in her disappearance. BUFFALO, New York (WABC) -- A SUNY Buffalo State College student from the Bronx who has. She was by herself. Im so done with my own life, and living it, the text read, according to WIVB. Updated: 9:14 AM EDT May 6, 2021. Dennis, 19, was. IE 11 is not supported. Around 1:20 a.m, Dennis texted a male friend and lied, saying she had talked to her mother and was on her way back to Buffalo, he said. Flynn said on the afternoon of April 24, Dennis got into an argument with her boyfriend in New York City over the phone. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hours later, Dennis told a friend she was going to jump off a bridge and took a selfie with Niagara Falls in the background. In fact, we specifically addressed that issue with law enforcement days before Mr. Flynn took over the case, the statement said of the video. "Temple's current leadership has consistently treated it as a PR problem first, safety second, and I think they have their priorities backward," said Brian Hart, a 2012 Temple graduate. Moose on the Loose: Battle to become Yankees shortstop, Activist killed in police-involved shooting, Rep. George Santos introduced his first bill in Congress, Pop-up grocery store opens in Greenwich Village, Expert raises awareness about eating disorders, NY Rep. Dan Goldman talks House ethics probe into, What to know about teens and their mental health, Read Across America Day kicks off at NYC bookstore, Womens History Month: Highlighting women in medicine. Erie Countys Crisis Hotline is available 24 hours a day: 716-834-3131. JSCO says if you see the vehicle or the missing women, then please call or text 911, and any information about their whereabouts should go to ECSO Dispatch at 541-776-7206. Dennis was last seen on New York State Park Police cameras shortly after midnight walking toward Goat Island, where her phone last pinged, Flynn said. Published He added authorities may never find her body because of the rocks below the area where her scent was last picked up. Authorities in New York believe that a missing Buffalo State University sophomore took her own life, but investigators have not found Saniyya Dennis' body. Officials. There is currently no evidence of foul play, authorities said. 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. "This is not like her. They stopped picking up the scent near Goat Island, Flynn said. "Our one and only goal in this investigation is to locate Saniyya and reconnect her with her family," UPD Chief Peter Carey said in a statement on Saturday. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Dennis, 19, was last seen leaving her dorm on April 24. Dennis walked toward a garbage can on campus and threw away "personal items that would lead someone to believe that she was not returning to the dorm," he said. Around 1 a.m., Dennis took a Snapchat selfie near the Nikola Tesla monument. According to investigators, her boyfriend broke up with her that day. 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. 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.. Dennis, a sophomore at Buffalo State College, disappeared after leaving her dorm on April 24. Family and supporters of missing Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis have been looking for leads in the case in Niagara Falls. University Police first reported her disappearance on Wednesday and posted her picture on its website and social media pages. The 19-year-old was last seen on April 24. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Investigators initially said Dennis may have been in the Western New York area or traveled to Yonkers, just north of the Bronx. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. 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. Dennis threw away "personal items" that led investigators to believe she would not return to the dorm and took a bus to Niagara Falls State Park by herself, Flynn said. At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Indonesia fuel depot fire kills 18; more than a dozen missing, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case, University Police Department at Buffalo State College, NTSB to investigate in-flight turbulence that left 1 passenger dead, Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico. She then sent a text telling him she planned to kill herself, Flynn said. 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. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Missing SUNY Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis. Saniyya Dennis, a Buffalo State College student, has been missing since she was captured on surveillance video leaving her residence hall on April 24. For more information, visit CrisisServices.org. Wilson Wong is a culture and trends reporter for NBC News Digital. You can watch DA Flynns full news conference below. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available 24 hours a day: 1-800-273-8255. 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. Saniyya Dennis was last seen on April 24. 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. In that conversation, Dennis said she was going to jump off a bridge. Dogs were trained to pick up her scent. "It appears that this poor girl took her own life," Erie County District Attorney John Flynn told reporters during a morning news conference. "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. 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! The statement challenged or refuted more than a dozen assertions laid out by Flynn during his news conference. (for youth and family crises): (716) 882-4357. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. In that conversation, she had said she was reconsidering what she said about suicide, and was feeling better than she was earlier. Saniyya Dennis, a 19-year-old sophomore from the Bronx, was last seen leaving her college dorm on April 24. It is impossible to prove the photo or image is of a person. Yesterday afternoon, members of my office met with the family of Saniyya Dennis to provide an update on the investigation into her disappearance. If this was somebody else's kid, I think it wouldve happened like this," Calvin Byrd, Dennis's father, said at the news conference. Family is offering a $10,000 reward for information about missing 19-year-old Buffalo StateCollegestudent Saniyya Dennis, as searches conducted near Niagara Falls in upstate New York over the weekend turned up empty more than one week after her disappearance. We've received your submission. "An exhaustive search and review of the evidence has. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace. May 7, 2021 / 11:13 AM About 11 p.m. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. ", Saniyya worked two jobs. Campus police are working with a variety of local, state and federal agencies to locate Dennis, according to UPD. The crash was reported around 2:30 p.m. near Trident Tech on Rivers Avenue. Ive finally had enough.. Authorities and volunteer search teams are still franticly searching for 19-year-old Saniyya Dennis. "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.". I feel awful for the parents, he said. "We've never had a missing person case such as this we're experiencing now with Ms. Dennis," Carey said. Theyve been placing flyers on any available surface and calling for the publics help. @DAErieCountyNY says #saniyyadennis parents are unaccepting their daughter committed suicide. An Illinois college student who was last seen leaving a residence on Friday night has been found dead. Flynn said all of this information had been communicated to Dennis parents on Wednesday afternoon.