Dennis parents, multiple agencies and local residents had been involved in anearly two-week searchfor the student. "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). Family said Saniyya is an honor student studying mechanical engineering. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Saniyya Dennis disappeared from SUNY Buffalo State College on April 24, officials said. "We combed the whole park, even places where she was nowhere near, putting up flyers," Byrd said on Saturday. 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.. 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. You can watch DA Flynns full news conference below. She was last seen leaving her . Erie Countys Crisis Hotline is available 24 hours a day: 716-834-3131. The family chastised Flynn for putting forth a narrative that was an easy sell without considering alternative scenarios involving foul play. BUFFALO, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- There's a tragic update on a missing college student from the Bronx. February 28, 2023. 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. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Buffalo State student is still missing, a week after she was last seen on campus. 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. 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, Community comes together to continue the search for, Mayor Brown meets with the family of missing Buffalo State student Saniyya Dennis, Ukraine: Mourners commemorate 8 men killed in Bucha, 1 killed when business jet encounters severe turbulence, Cant take statins? 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. 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 male friend called Dennis, who picked up and said she was going to jump off a bridge, according to the DA. Flynn said on the afternoon of April 24, Dennis got into an argument with her boyfriend in New York City over the phone. She was last seen. All rights reserved. She also spoke about dying by suicide with a male friend, he added. Legal Statement. 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. 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. The crash was reported around 2:30 p.m. near Trident Tech on Rivers Avenue. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. 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. 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. Wilson Wong. 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. Dennis continued to attempt contacting him, and said she was going to kill herself. (for youth and family crises): (716) 882-4357. Saniyya Dennis, 19, was last seen on the SUNY Buffalo State College campus on April 24, the. If you or someone you know might be at risk of suicide, there is help. I feel awful for the parents, he said. All of this information was provided to Dennis parents on Wednesday afternoon. 4, 2023 at 12:11 PM PST | Updated: moments 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. Missing Buffalo State student Saniyya Dennis. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Investigators said her cellphone left the network about 1:20 a.m. April 25, which means it was either destroyed or powered off. Around 1 a.m., Dennis took a Snapchat selfie near the Nikola Tesla monument. Investigators initially said Dennis may have been in the Western New York area or traveled to Yonkers, just north of the Bronx. She then sent a text telling him she planned to kill herself, Flynn said. 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. 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. Minutes after that, her cell phone left the cellular network, meaning it was either powered off or destroyed. Anyone with information about the search for Vandergrift is asked to call SFPD Tip Line at 415-575 . A ping from her cellphone was detected aboute two hours later inNiagara Falls State Park, 17 miles from campus. 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. She may be caught in the jagged rocks there.". 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, 19, was. Market data provided by Factset. "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.". In fact, we specifically addressed that issue with law enforcement days before Mr. Flynn took over the case, the statement said of the video. Ive finally had enough.. The two remained on the phone for several hours before she later told the male friend she had reconsidered. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. 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? About an hour after that phone conversation ended, Dennis threw personal items into a garbage can. UPD described Dennis as a 5 feet, 3 inches tall Black woman weighing 125 pounds. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. In that conversation, Dennis said she was going to jump off a bridge. 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. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This was around 11 p.m. Saniyya Dennis, 19, was last seen leaving her dorm room at the SUNY Buffalo . She was very focused on her studies, she said. 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 a good heart.. Her father, Calvin Byrd, has since traveled to Niagara Falls to search for his daughter. 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. BUFFALO, New York (WABC) -- A SUNY Buffalo State College student from the Bronx who has. 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. "There is a possibility that if we believe what happened happened, we may never find her body," he said. Prosecutors say it appears 19-year-old Saniya Dennis took her own life. Her family members reported her missing to Buffalo State police on April 26, which prompted a widespread investigation. "Looking at Niagara Falls, the area is just filled with rocks," he said. Dogs were trained to pick up her scent. "This is not like her. 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. Saniyya Dennis is seen in this undated released by Buffalo State University Police to help locate, on May 1, 2021. 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. The day she disappeared,Dennishad an argument with her boyfriend that led to him breaking up with her,Flynnsaid. Saniyya Dennis, 19, is a sophomore who was. 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. (Source: WPXI/ROSS TOWNSHIP POLICE/CNN) Odd, Flynn held his conference days before Mothers Day without any regard for the Dennis family, the statement said. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. However, cellphone records showed that to not be true. Saniyya Dennis, 19, was last seen on the SUNY Buffalo State College campus on April 24, the University Police Department (UPD) told CNN. The investigation found no evidence of criminality in the case. 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. May 7, 2021 / 11:13 AM Clothing items, a cell phone was found, a bracelet was found all of these could be the utmost importance because we have absolutely no information on what happened to Saniyya Dennis, added Stevens. It was unclear what the personal items were. M issing for over a week, family and friends continue to search for 19-year-old Buffalo State student Saniyya Dennis. Officials are asking anyone with information regarding the investigation to contact the University Police Department at Buffalo State College. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Authorities are searching for a New York college sophomore who disappeared over a week ago. 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. 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. Discovery Company. 2:18 AM EDT, Mon May 3, 2021. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Campus police are working with a variety of local, state and federal agencies to locate Dennis, according to UPD. There exists no evidence that it came from Saniyya A person named Keith K posted it via social media days later. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, help is available. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Thank you to all who have assisted in the search to find Saniyya. Latisha Dennis says she will put up. This is not of her nature," Saniyyas sister, Keyora Dennis, said at a recent press conference Friday. 2023 Cable News 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 on Saturday. 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. 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. Mycalia Raine Wilson was last seen at approximately 11:35 p.m. on Tuesday night at the family home, police said. Why does it take so long to get video footage of buses?. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. University Police has circulated her information statewide to police agencies and hospitals through the New York State Missing Persons Clearinghouse. Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Saniyya Dennis, the 19-year-old SUNY Buffalo State College who went missing last month, died by apparent suicide, according to officials. 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. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace. Contact Crisis Services 24-hour hotline for support: 716-834-3131. 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. If you or someone you know are struggling with suicidal thoughts,click here for resources. "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.". Yesterday afternoon, members of my office met with the family of Saniyya Dennis to provide an update on the investigation into her disappearance. 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. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. But that was not true, according to cell phone records. Her boyfriend was in New York City the entire time, and is not considered a suspect in her disappearance. 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. 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. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. A portion of Rivers Avenue near Hayne Street is blocked off because of the crash . 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 will forever be a member of our Buffalo State family," Conway-Turner added. According to the DA, video from the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority showed she rode two different buses going toward Niagara Falls. According to investigators, her boyfriend broke up with her that day. This story has been shared 167,794 times. He then called her, and they spoke for about 45 minutes. No evidence of foul play was immediately detected, the University Police Department (UPD) at Buffalo State College 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. 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. UPD and campus officials are in close consultation with Saniyyas family and are providing support during this difficult time, the campus police department said. 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. 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. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Buffalo State student is still missing, a week after she was last seen on campus. Multiple agencies have been involved in the search for Dennis, and the search will continue until shes found. Dennis had not been in contact with her family, according to Carey. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. She was last seen April 24 leaving her dorm at Buffalo State College. Striking, his post is a screenshot of what is alleged to be a snapchat from Saniyya. Missing Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis is believed to have taken her own life. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available 24 hours a day: 1-800-273-8255. 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. As she was there, she received a text from a friend telling her to call him or else hell call police. We're all baffled as to what's going on., Keyora Dennis, Dennis' sister, said this was "not of her nature. This is not like her, Dennis sister said at the press conference Friday, CNN affiliate WKBW reported. BUFFALO, N.Y. Nearly two weeks after the disappearance of Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis, officials announced Thursday they believe the Bronx teen might have taken her own. Flynn did not say what those items were, but said they would make someone believe she wasnt planning to return to her dorm. Saniyya Dennis, a 19-year-old sophomore from the Bronx, was last seen leaving her college dorm on April 24. No all I can do is present you everything I have.. ET, Dennis was seen leaving her dorm room at State University of New York College at Buffalo. The family told reporters that they were alerted by one of Dennis' friends that she may have gotten on a bus to Niagara Park. Flynn said he provided details of the investigation to Dennis parents Wednesday. Dennis, a sophomore at Buffalo State College, disappeared after leaving her dorm on April 24. 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. I feel awful for the parents, he said. 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. Saniyya Dennis, the New York college student who disappeared last month, died by apparent suicide, officials said Thursday. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. 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. Authorities are continuing their search for a missing New York college student who disappeared more than a week ago. 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. 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. Market data provided by Factset. (Buffalo State College) Her. We've received your submission. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- There's a tragic update on a missing college student from the Bronx. Flynn said all of this information had been communicated to Dennis parents on Wednesday afternoon. Calvin Byrd, Dennis' father, told NBC affiliate WGRZ that the experience was a "nightmare.". They asked Flynn not to use to words committed suicide. He slept on it and chose to say Saniyya took her own life.. They stopped picking up the scent near Goat Island, Flynn said. Family and supporters of missing Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis have been looking for leads in the case in Niagara Falls. NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. On Wednesday community members continued to search for Dennis, a 19-year-old Buffalo State College student. My thoughts and prayers remain with Saniyyas family and friends during this difficult time. A missing New York college student who disappeared last month is believed to have died by suicide, authorities said Thursday. "That's a possibility.". While authorities have not recovered her body, they believe Dennis died by suicide based on the timeline of her last hours. Dennis, 19, was last seen on April 24 leaving her residence hall around 11:30 p.m., according to University Police. Legal Statement. She was last seen. "If what I believe happened, happened, we may never find the body. A college sophomore, Dennis was last seen leaving her dorm on April 24. 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,. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. In that conversation, she had said she was reconsidering what she said about suicide, and was feeling better than she was earlier. About 11 p.m. 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. 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. Saniyya I. Dennis, a Bronx native, was last seen April. Published: Mar. The 19-year-old was last seen on April 24. The male friend and Dennis' boyfriend did not immediately report her suspected disappearance, according to the DA. It is impossible to prove the photo or image is of a person. Shortly after throwing those personal items away, her bus card was swiped at a nearby bus. 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. Dennis parents were notified of the investigations findings Wednesday afternoon, the DA 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. 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. Officials. 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. Missing SUNY Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis. HANAHAN, S.C. (WCSC) - Police in Hanahan are searching for a 15-year-old girl who was reported missing on Tuesday. 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. Some are going to say without a body, do youdefinitelyknow that she took her own life? Flynn continued. University Police is working with police agencies at the local, stateand federal level, Carey said. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much "Understandably, emotions are high right now, but I want to be clear that our department will not rest until Saniyya is found.". 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?. Shortly after, Flynn said, she was captured on campus surveillance video leaving her dorm. 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. For more information, visit CrisisServices.org. Warning: The content may be triggering. Dennis, a sophomore at Buffalo State College, disappeared after leaving her dorm on April 24. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Saniyya Dennis, a.
