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. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Dennis, a sophomore at Buffalo State College, disappeared after leaving her dorm on April 24. / CBS New York. No evidence of foul play was immediately detected, the University Police Department (UPD) at Buffalo State College said. ", Saniyya worked two jobs. 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. Minutes after that text, her cellphone left the cellular network, meaning it was either powered off or destroyed, according to officials. That video has not been made public. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. She has dark brown hair and brown eyes. This is not of her nature," Saniyyas sister, Keyora Dennis, said at a recent press conference Friday. "I can't leave if I didn't say I looked at every inch of this park," he told "Good Morning America." 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. Despite the evidence, the DA said the search for Dennis will continue. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Julia Stevens, who is part of the activist group, Allies for Black Justice, led a search party Friday and distributed posters around the area of the park where the cellphone ping took place. Flynn said on the afternoon of April 24, Dennis got into an argument with her boyfriend in New York City over the phone. . Ive finally had enough.. (Buffalo State College). @DAErieCountyNY says #saniyyadennis parents are unaccepting their daughter committed suicide. Dennis, 19, was last seen on April 24 leaving her residence hall around 11:30 p.m., according to University Police. All Rights Reserved. MORE | Family of missing Buffalo State student calls for communitys help, offers reward for students whereabouts. Missing Bronx college student Saniyya Dennis (family/officials), by: Lauren Cook, Evan Anstey/WIVB, Mark Sundstrom. Latisha Dennis says she will put up. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. The family demanded a federal investigation by the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. 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. IE 11 is not supported. University Police has circulated her information statewide to police agencies and hospitals through the New York State Missing Persons Clearinghouse. The male friend called Dennis, who picked up and said she was going to jump off a bridge, according to the DA. The 19-year-old was last seen leaving her dorm late at night on April 24 after having an argument with her boyfriend earlier in the day that led him to break up with her, Flynn said. 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, a Buffalo State College student, has been missing since she was captured on surveillance video leaving her residence hall on April 24. In the meantime, volunteers, friends and family have formed search parties to help find Dennis. Why does it take so long to get video footage of buses? For more information, visit CrisisServices.org. 14. BUFFALO, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- There's a tragic update on a missing college student from the Bronx. As she was there, she received a text from a friend telling her to call him or else hell call police. Wilson Wong is a culture and trends reporter for NBC News Digital. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Anyone with information that may be of assistance to the investigation is asked to contact Buffalo States University Police Department at (716) 878-6333 or police@buffalostate.edu. But that was not true, according to cell phone records. Dennis, a sophomore at Buffalo State College, disappeared after leaving her dorm on April 24. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Cameras last captured 19-year-old Saniyya Dennis leaving her dorm room, last Saturday night 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. 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.. "I would ask that our campus and Western New York community keep her family in your thoughts," she said in a statement. All rights reserved. "She was a good friend, a good person. 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. Flynn said she got into an argument with her boyfriend, which ended with him breaking up with her. Why does it take so long to get subpoenas to cellphone records? said Dennis father, Calvin Byrd. Around Midnight, Dennis texted her mother, telling her she loves her and that shell call her the next day. If you or someone you know might be at risk of suicide, there is help. It was unclear what the personal items were. 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. During a news conference Friday, Dennis' family criticized police for not moving fast enough and stalling a search party. Saniyya Dennis, a 19-year-old sophomore from the Bronx, was last seen leaving her college dorm on April 24. Missing SUNY Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis. Investigators initially said Dennis may have been in the Western New York area or traveled to Yonkers, just north of the Bronx. 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. appreciated. "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.". However, Dennis family said on Friday they do not agree with Flynns narrative that she died by suicide and accused the district attorney of sharing details of her case without conferring with them first. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. UPD described Dennis as a 5 feet, 3 inches tall Black woman weighing 125 pounds. Authorities and volunteer search teams are still franticly searching for 19-year-old Saniyya Dennis. 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. On the first bus, Flynn said Dennis was alone, but she eventually got onto another bus and got off at a stop near the Niagara Falls Visitor Center. This is not like her, Dennis sister said at the press conference Friday, CNN affiliate WKBW reported. The family chastised Flynn for putting forth a narrative that was an easy sell without considering alternative scenarios involving foul play. 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. "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. 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. 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! May 3 (UPI) --Local, federal and collegiate authorities are ramping up efforts to find a student from New York state who's now been missing for more than a week, officials said Monday.Buffalo . Saniyya Dennis, 19, was last seen leaving her dorm room at the SUNY Buffalo . Dennis, 19, was last . Theyve been placing flyers on any available surface and calling for the publics help. In that conversation, she had said she was reconsidering what she said about suicide, and was feeling better than she was earlier. Anyone with information is asked to contact (716) 878-6333. pic.twitter.com/9saaPYPeOv. BUFFALO, N.Y. The family of a Buffalo State College student missing since late April will hold a balloon launch Monday to mark her 20th birthday. "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. Dogs were trained to pick up her scent. May 8, 2021 / 8:30 AM For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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. She was last seen leaving her . (Source: WPXI/ROSS TOWNSHIP POLICE/CNN) "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.". 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. BUFFALO, New York (WABC) -- A SUNY Buffalo State College student from the Bronx who has. Dennis Family via Buffalo State University Police, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. 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. But Flynn says her body may not be able to be recovered. His screenshot of her alleged storyline is not dated and has no time, video or chat from her, the family statement said. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. While authorities have not recovered her body, they believe Dennis died by suicide based on the timeline of her last hours. Missing Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis is believed to have taken her own life. We've received your submission. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. Saniyya Dennis, the New York college student who disappeared last month, died by apparent suicide, officials said Thursday. Flynn said dogs searching the area in Niagara Falls State Park lost Dennis' scent near the water's edge. On Friday at 7 p.m., Mishealia Marie Meredith, 19, of Harrisburg, left a home where she. 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. Authorities are continuing their search for a missing New York college student who disappeared more than a week ago. Around 1 a.m., Dennis took a Snapchat selfie near the Nikola Tesla monument. What do the orange, green dots on my iPhone mean? She then sent a text telling him she planned to kill herself, Flynn said. BUFFALO, New York (WABC) -- Police and family are searching for a missing SUNY Buffalo State College student from the Bronx who has been missing for more than a week. Investigators later revealed that Dennis' phone pinged off of a cell tower near Niagara Falls State Park around 1:23 a.m. April 25. Understandably, emotions are high right now, but I want to be clear that our department will not rest until Saniyya is found.. We will be out here every single day for you until we find you because you deserve that.. UPD and campus officials are in close consultation with Saniyyas family and are providing support during this difficult time, the campus police department said. Legal Statement. "If what I believe happened, happened, we may never find the body. "Why does it take so long to get subpoenas to cellphone records? U.S. news Saniyya Dennis, missing Buffalo State College student, took her own life, DA says The 19-year-old was last seen leaving her dorm room at SUNY Buffalo State College on April 24,. (for youth and family crises): (716) 882-4357. Saturday, the search for her continued, with family and friends again canvassing. 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.. Efforts to reach Dennis family at phone numbers listed for them were unsuccessful Thursday. Dennis continued to attempt contacting him, and said she was going to kill herself. Thank you to all who have assisted in the search to find Saniyya. NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. On Wednesday community members continued to search for Dennis, a 19-year-old Buffalo State College student. "Looking at Niagara Falls, the area is just filled with rocks," he said. Carey said during a news conference Friday that investigators have found no cell phone, electronic or financial activity since Dennis disappeared. Investigators said her cellphone left the network about 1:20 a.m. April 25, which means it was either destroyed or powered off. She was very focused on her studies, she said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Her boyfriend was in New York City the entire time, and is not considered a suspect in her disappearance. 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. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. They asked Flynn not to use to words committed suicide. He slept on it and chose to say Saniyya took her own life.. 2. Saniyya Dennis, a Buffalo State College student, has been missing since she was captured on surveillance video leaving her residence hall on April 24. 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. Anyone with information about the search for Vandergrift is asked to call SFPD Tip Line at 415-575 . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Why does it take so long to get video footage of buses?. Prosecutors say it appears 19-year-old Saniya Dennis took her own life. All of this information was provided to Dennis parents on Wednesday afternoon. Her father, Calvin Byrd, has since traveled to Niagara Falls to search for his daughter. At 12:19 a.m., the male friend called her and they spoke for 45 minutes, Flynn said. This was around 11 p.m. Anyone with information that may be of assistance to the investigation is asked to contact Buffalo States University Police Department at (716) 878-6333 or police@buffalostate.edu. Authorities in New York believe that a missing Buffalo State University sophomore took her own life, but investigators have not found Saniyya Dennis' body. Missing students are rare at Buffalo State. Several minutes later, her phone left her cellular network. 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. However, cellphone records showed that to not be true. 2023 Cable News Network. Calvin Byrd, Dennis' father, told NBC affiliate WGRZ that the experience was a "nightmare.". Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Dont Ditch it: free repair event held, Funeral arrangements announced for fallen firefighter, Live Traffic Map Sponsored by The Barnes Firm, Bills ranked as 9th-best team to play for: NFLPA, Sabres add F Jordan Greenway at trade deadline, Where to get a fish fry in Buffalo in 2023, Tim Hortons app-based Roll Up to Win returns Monday, Turning back the pages on the history of Bethel AME, Underground Railroad has long history in Niagara, Important FAQ for WIVB/WNLO Antenna Viewers, Family of missing Buffalo State student calls for communitys help, offers reward for students whereabouts, Search party for missing Buffalo State student Saniyya, Mayor Brown meets with the family of missing Buffalo, Ukraine: Mourners commemorate 8 men killed in Bucha, 1 killed when business jet encounters severe turbulence, Cant take statins? It is impossible to prove the photo or image is of a person. I also want to thank the Buffalo State community, members of the media, and residents from Western New York and beyond who have participated in the search and shared information about her case., Buffalo State Counseling Center: (716) 878-4436, Employee Assistance Program (EAP): (716) 878-6699, Reach Out SUNY NYS COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline: 1-844-863-9314, SUNY Crisis Text Line: Text GOT5U to 741-741, Crisis Services of Buffalo (24/7): (716) 834-3131, Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK), option 1, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK), Spectrum Health & Human Services: (716) 710-5172, C.A.R.E.S. Wilson Wong. The Buffalo State College sophomore was last seen leaving her dorm room on April 24th, but. 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. Saniyya Dennis is seen in this undated released by Buffalo State University Police to help locate, on May 1, 2021. Dennis parents were notified of the investigations findings Wednesday afternoon, the DA said. Buffalo State University Police says. Flynn said she got into an argument with her boyfriend, which ended with him breaking up with her.. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. 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. Katherine Conway-Turner, the president of Buffalo State College, expressed her support to Dennis' friends and family on Thursday. 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 investigation found no evidence of criminality in the case. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. The day she disappeared,Dennishad an argument with her boyfriend that led to him breaking up with her,Flynnsaid. Officials are asking anyone with information regarding the investigation to contact the University Police Department at Buffalo State College. "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. These dismissive acts caused victim blaming and shaming. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. This is not of her nature.. Buffalo State Police said it obtained surveillance footage of Saniyya at the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) bus terminal in downtown Buffalo, WGRZ reported. There exists no evidence that it came from Saniyya A person named Keith K posted it via social media days later. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! I feel awful that I dont have a conclusion, obviously.. 2:18 AM EDT, Mon May 3, 2021. "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.". 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. Family said she handed in a school assignment before catching a bus to Niagara Falls. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. She was by herself. Dennis had not been in contact with her family, according to Carey. No all I can do is present you everything I have.. 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. It appears that this poor girl took her own life,Erie County District Attorney John Flynnsaidat a news conferenceThursday morning. Market data provided by Factset. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. A college sophomore, Dennis was last seen leaving her dorm on April 24. Saniyya Dennis, the 19-year-old SUNY Buffalo State College who went missing last month, died by apparent suicide, according to officials. In fact, we specifically addressed that issue with law enforcement days before Mr. Flynn took over the case, the statement said of the video. Missing SUNY Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis. According to the WSP, 49-year-old Denell Kelly . Dennis parents, multiple agencies and local residents had been involved in anearly two-week searchfor the student. She has a good heart.. 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. Discovery Company. May 7, 2021 / 11:13 AM 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. Officials: Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis 'took her own life', U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Erie Countys Crisis Hotline is available 24 hours a day: 716-834-3131. According to investigators, her boyfriend broke up with her that day. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A firefighter died inside a burning commercial building in downtown Buffalo, New York, on Wednesday, where a fire and sudden blast sent flames and smoke billowing into the street . Officials. 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. Family and supporters of missing Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis have been looking for leads in the case in Niagara Falls. After trying to contact him 59 times to no avail, she called another male friend in New York City and talked about killing herself, the DA said. 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.. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, CVS offering on-site mental health services, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, What's next for Buster Murdaugh after dad's murder conviction, life sentence, Patrick Mahomes' brother accused of assault, forcibly kissing owner at bar, Sick trolls leak gruesome Maggie Murdaugh autopsy photo after it was accidentally shown on livestream, Alex Murdaugh shaves head for latest mugshot after learning his fate for killing his wife, son, Prince Harry says hes not a victim: I never looked for sympathy, Allison Holker pens touching note to kids after Stephen tWitch Boss death, Heather Dubrows youngest child, 12, comes out as transgender, Tom Sizemore And The Dangerous Burden of Desperation, March 4, 1984: Martina Navratilova defeats Chris Evert at MSG, Tom Sandoval breaks silence on Ariana Madix split amid cheating claims. About 11 p.m. My office and our partners in law enforcement have found no evidence of any criminality in this case. HANAHAN, S.C. (WCSC) - Police in Hanahan are searching for a 15-year-old girl who was reported missing on Tuesday. According to the DA, video from the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority showed she rode two different buses going toward Niagara Falls. If you or someone you know are struggling with suicidal thoughts,click here for resources. Family said Saniyya is an honor student studying mechanical engineering.