Dennis, 19, was last seen on April 24 leaving her residence hall around 11:30 p.m., according to University Police. Saniyya Dennis, a. Around 1 a.m., the teen took a Snapchat selfie near the Nikola Tesla monument with Niagara Falls in the background, according to Flynn. About an hour after that phone conversation ended, Dennis threw personal items into a garbage can. We will be out here every single day for you until we find you because you deserve that.. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Courtney Gabamonte has also been helping in the search, she tells us, being a woman and having a girl missing is just heartbreaking so why not come out and help look if were not far from where she might be found?. In that conversation, Dennis said she was going to jump off a bridge. UPD and campus officials are in close consultation with Saniyyas family and are providing support during this difficult time, the campus police department said. Milford . 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. Family said she handed in a school assignment before catching a bus to Niagara Falls. It was unclear what the personal items were. Saniyya Dennis, a Buffalo State College student, has been missing since she was captured on surveillance video leaving her residence hall on April 24. She has dark brown hair and brown eyes. 14. / CBS News. Flynn did not say what those items were, but said they would make someone believe she wasnt planning to return to her dorm. All rights reserved. Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. I feel awful for the parents, he said. (Courtesy Dennis family) Flynn said on the afternoon of April 24, Dennis got into an argument with her boyfriend in New York City. 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, a 19-year-old sophomore from the Bronx, was last seen leaving her college dorm on April 24. 4, 2023 at 12:11 PM PST | Updated: moments ago. A large group of volunteers searched for Dennis over the weekend at Niagara Falls State Park near Goat Island, where police said her phone last pinged, the station reported. No evidence of foul play was immediately detected, the University Police Department (UPD) at Buffalo State College said. Anyone with information about the search for Vandergrift is asked to call SFPD Tip Line at 415-575 . Saniyya Dennis, 19, was last seen leaving her dorm room at the SUNY Buffalo . This story has been shared 106,229 times. Desperate for any leads, her dad, also known as rapper 40 Cal,offered a cash rewardin a caption of one of his Instagram posts. Dogs were trained to pick up her scent. "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. Missing students are rare at Buffalo State. A missing 19-year-old from Hopkinton was found dead in a wooded area of Milford on Tuesday, the Worcester County District Attorney's Office said Tuesday evening. The 19-year-old was last seen on April 24. The family told reporters that they were alerted by one of Dennis' friends that she may have gotten on a bus to Niagara Park. Efforts to reach Dennis family at phone numbers listed for them were unsuccessful 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "An exhaustive search and review of the evidence has. While authorities have not recovered her body, they believe Dennis died by suicide based on the timeline of her last hours. All evidence indicates that Saniyya ended her own life, but the investigation into her disappearance will not be closed until she is found. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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. Her family told police she may be in the Stall Road area, the Hawthorn Suites on Rivers Avenue in North Charleston or . Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. 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. All Rights Reserved. She also spoke about dying by suicide with a male friend, he added. Just before the news conference ended, the police acknowledged they had security video from the bus depot that showed Dennis and they were only able to get her cellphone records on April 27. The Buffalo State College sophomore was last seen leaving her dorm room on April 24th, but. CNN Authorities are searching for a New York college sophomore who disappeared over a week ago. 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. Carey said during a news conference Friday that investigators have found no cell phone, electronic or financial activity since Dennis disappeared. We've received your submission. On Friday at 7 p.m., Mishealia Marie Meredith, 19, of Harrisburg, left a home where she. Saniyya Dennis, a Buffalo State College student, has been missing since she was captured on surveillance video leaving her residence hall on April 24. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Buffalo State student is still missing, a week after she was last seen on campus. She may be caught in the jagged rocks there.". Multiple law enforcement agencies and numerous volunteers were involved in a search for Dennis following her disappearance. "There is a possibility that if we believe what happened happened, we may never find her body," he said. Contact Crisis Services 24-hour hotline for support: 716-834-3131. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Calvin Byrd, Dennis' father, told NBC affiliate WGRZ that the experience was a "nightmare.". The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available 24 hours a day: 1-800-273-8255. The 19-year-old Buff State sophomore was last seen leaving an elevator in her dorm building the night of April 24. Campus police are working with a variety of local, state and federal agencies to locate Dennis, according to UPD. 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. These dismissive acts caused victim blaming and shaming. 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. Saniyya Dennis, 19, was last seen on the SUNY Buffalo State College campus on April 24, the University Police Department (UPD) told CNN. That video has not been made public. 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. I feel awful that I dont have a conclusion, obviously.. He is a native of Fremont. 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. BUFFALO, New York (WABC) -- A SUNY Buffalo State College student from the Bronx who has. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Authorities are continuing their search for a missing New York college student who disappeared more than a week ago. 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. About 20 minutes after this, she texted a male friend, and said that she spoke with her mom and was on her way back to Buffalo. "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. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. She will forever be a member of our Buffalo State family," Conway-Turner added. Market data provided by Factset. Missing Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis is believed to have taken her own life. The male friend and Dennis' boyfriend did not immediately report her suspected disappearance, according to the DA. Dennis had not been in contact with her family, according to Carey. Buffalo State remains in close consultation with and is supporting the Dennis family," Carey said in a statement this weekend. Latisha Dennis says she will put up. BUFFALO, N.Y. Family and friends of a missing Buffalo State student are hoping that she is found safely. This story has been shared 167,794 times. 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. / CBS New York. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Updated: 9:14 AM EDT May 6, 2021. Please enter valid email address to continue. The family of a Buffalo State College student missing since last weekend has put up a $10,000 reward for information that leads to her safe return. 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. IE 11 is not supported. 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 parents were notified of the investigations findings Wednesday afternoon, the DA said. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Her boyfriend was in New York City the entire time, and is not considered a suspect in her disappearance. Yesterday afternoon, members of my office met with the family of Saniyya Dennis to provide an update on the investigation into her disappearance. 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.. Buffalo State Police said it obtained surveillance footage of Saniyya at the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) bus terminal in downtown Buffalo, WGRZ reported. 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. The investigation found no evidence of criminality in the case. Dennis, who is from the Bronx, is described as 5 feet, 3 inches tall, approximately 125 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. "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.". NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - North Charleston Police are responding to a crash with serious injuries Saturday afternoon. 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. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Missing SUNY Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis. Anyone with information is asked to contact Buffalo State Police at (716) 878-6333. A missing New York college student who disappeared last month is believed to have died by suicide, authorities said Thursday. 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. According to the WSP, 49-year-old Denell Kelly . You can watch DA Flynns full news conference below. "That's a possibility.". Fox News Flash top headlines are here. 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.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Erie Countys Crisis Hotline is available 24 hours a day: 716-834-3131. A college sophomore, Dennis was last seen leaving her dorm on April 24. Rather, it is nothing more than a black dot shot from a distance. "She was a good friend, a good person. This is not of her nature.. 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. She was very focused on her studies, she said. Prosecutors say Dennis' boyfriend was in New York City at the time and is not a suspect. They stopped picking up the scent near Goat Island, Flynn said. Erie County District Attorney John Flynn held a news briefing Thursday during which he outlined a timeline of events and evidence that he said led to the conclusion that Dennis took her own life.. Flynn said Dennis was troubled by the breakup and later contacted another male friend in New York City, also telling him she had planned to commit suicide. Flynn said she got into an argument with her boyfriend, which ended with him breaking up with her. 2. 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. 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. The crash was reported around 2:30 p.m. near Trident Tech on Rivers Avenue. My office and our partners in law enforcement have found no evidence of any criminality in this case. According to investigators, her boyfriend broke up with her that day. Around Midnight, Dennis texted her mother, telling her she loves her and that shell call her the next day. 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. 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. He added authorities may never find her body because of the rocks below the area where her scent was last picked up. The family accused Buffalo State University, police and Flynns office of not taking Dennis disappearance seriously, including a delay in responding to multiple requests for a wellness check on April 25. 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. Browns push to buck Dem, Texas congressman who broke with GOP is censured, Capitol rioter from Buffalo admits to stealing badge, How to donate to the family of the fallen Buffalo, Patriots and Heroes Park vandalized overnight, Questions linger about legal aspects of Main Street, Building that caught fire had expired work permit, First responders honor Firefighter Jason Arno, Buffalo firefighter who died Wednesday identified, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. "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.". Investigators initially said Dennis may have been in the Western New York area or traveled to Yonkers, just north of the Bronx. 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. She was by herself. Dennis, a sophomore at Buffalo State College, disappeared after leaving her dorm on April 24. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Dennis, of Bronx, New York, is a college sophomore. 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. The district attorney and officials indicated they believe Dennis never left Niagara Falls State Park. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much She was last seen. Legal Statement. Theyve been placing flyers on any available surface and calling for the publics help. Why does it take so long to get video footage of buses?. 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 material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Saniyya Dennis,. I feel awful for the parents, he said. However, cellphone records showed that to not be true. 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. Wilson Wong. They asked Flynn not to use to words committed suicide. He slept on it and chose to say Saniyya took her own life.. MORE | Family of missing Buffalo State student calls for communitys help, offers reward for students whereabouts. Ive finally had enough.. Despite the evidence, the DA said the search for Dennis will continue. Some are going to say without a body, do youdefinitelyknow that she took her own life? Flynn continued. BUFFALO, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- There's a tragic update on a missing college student from the Bronx. "It appears that this poor [] 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. During a news conference on Friday, Dennis family members said it was uncharacteristic of her to suddenly disappear. During a news conference Friday, Dennis' family criticized police for not moving fast enough and stalling a search party. NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. On Wednesday community members continued to search for Dennis, a 19-year-old Buffalo State College student. 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. 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. Browns push to buck Dem, Texas congressman who broke with GOP is censured, Capitol rioter from Buffalo admits to stealing badge, How to donate to the family of the fallen Buffalo, Patriots and Heroes Park vandalized overnight, Questions linger about legal aspects of Main Street, Building that caught fire had expired work permit, First responders honor Firefighter Jason Arno, Buffalo firefighter who died Wednesday identified, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information.