2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Dennis, of Bronx, New York, is a college sophomore. M issing for over a week, family and friends continue to search for 19-year-old Buffalo State student Saniyya Dennis. UPD and campus officials are in close consultation with Saniyyas family and are providing support during this difficult time, the campus police department said. Story tips can be sent to
[email protected] and on Twitter: @danimwallace. Anyone with information is asked to contact Buffalo State Police at (716) 878-6333. 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. They stopped picking up the scent near Goat Island, Flynn said. Missing SUNY Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis. CNN Authorities are searching for a New York college sophomore who disappeared over a week ago. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. "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. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Saniyya Dennis, the 19-year-old SUNY Buffalo State College who went missing last month, died by apparent suicide, according to officials. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ", Saniyya worked two jobs. All rights reserved. According to investigators, her boyfriend broke up with her that day. May 7, 2021 / 11:13 AM This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. My thoughts and prayers remain with Saniyyas family and friends during this difficult time. UPD described Dennis as a 5 feet, 3 inches tall Black woman weighing 125 pounds. 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. Published: Mar. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. No all I can do is present you everything I have.. 14. A Warner Bros. Legal Statement. She may be caught in the jagged rocks there.". BUFFALO, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- There's a tragic update on a missing college student from the Bronx. Saniyya Dennis, 19, is a sophomore who was. Authorities and volunteer search teams are still franticly searching for 19-year-old Saniyya Dennis. "There is a possibility that if we believe what happened happened, we may never find her body," he said. That evening, Dennis and her friend stayed on the phone together for about four hours. ET, Dennis was seen leaving her dorm room at State University of New York College at Buffalo. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Multiple law enforcement agencies and numerous volunteers were involved in a search for Dennis following her disappearance. University Police first reported her disappearance on Wednesday and posted her picture on its website and social media pages. 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 all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Missing Bronx college student Saniyya Dennis (family/officials), by: Lauren Cook, Evan Anstey/WIVB, Mark Sundstrom. Flynn said dogs searching the area in Niagara Falls State Park lost Dennis' scent near the water's edge. 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. Her family told police she may be in the Stall Road area, the Hawthorn Suites on Rivers Avenue in North Charleston or . I feel awful for the parents, he said. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Buffalo State student is still missing, a week after she was last seen on campus. appreciated. Latisha Dennis says she will put up. 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. 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. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text a crisis counselor at 741741, or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. She also texted her friend, saying she wouldnt see him this summer. 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. 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.. Wilson Wong is a culture and trends reporter for NBC News Digital. Saniyya Dennis, 19, has been missing since Saturday night. However, cellphone records showed that to not be true. "That's a possibility.". Around 1 a.m., the teen took a Snapchat selfie near the Nikola Tesla monument with Niagara Falls in the background, according to Flynn. There exists no evidence that it came from Saniyya A person named Keith K posted it via social media days later. 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. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Please enter valid email address to continue. Yesterday afternoon, members of my office met with the family of Saniyya Dennis to provide an update on the investigation into her disappearance. Buffalo State Police said it obtained surveillance footage of Saniyya at the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) bus terminal in downtown Buffalo, WGRZ reported. 2023 Cable News Network. Desperate for any leads, her dad, also known as rapper 40 Cal,offered a cash rewardin a caption of one of his Instagram posts. Officials. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. 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. 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. May 8, 2021 / 8:30 AM Saniyya Dennis was last seen on April 24. This is not of her nature.. She was last seen April 24 leaving her dorm at Buffalo State College. "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. Agencies working the case include: New York State Police, NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services Clearinghouse, NYS Park Police, City of Buffalo Police, City of Niagara Falls Police, Erie County Sheriffs Office, Erie Crime Analysis Center, Erie County District Attorneys Office, Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) Police, Niagara Regional Police, Amtrak Police, and the United States Secret Service. Investigators later revealed that Dennis' phone pinged off of a cell tower near Niagara Falls State Park around 1:23 a.m. April 25. (Buffalo State College) Her. For more information, visit CrisisServices.org. Saniyya Dennis, a 19-year-old sophomore from the Bronx, was last seen leaving her college dorm on April 24. According to the WSP, 49-year-old Denell Kelly . Flynn said on the afternoon of April 24, Dennis got into an argument with her boyfriend in New York City over the phone. Saniyya Dennis, the New York college student who disappeared last month, died by apparent suicide, officials said Thursday. 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. Missing Buffalo State student Saniyya Dennis. Efforts to reach Dennis family at phone numbers listed for them were unsuccessful Thursday. About 11 p.m. 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. 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. All of this information was provided to Dennis parents on Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors say it appears 19-year-old Saniya Dennis took her own life. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Wilson Wong is a culture and trends reporter for NBC News Digital. 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. 2. Flynn said investigators will not definitively know what happened to Dennis until her body is found and an autopsy is conducted. Flynn said he provided details of the investigation to Dennis parents Wednesday. Missing SUNY 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. There is a possibility that we may never find a body, Flynn said, adding that Dennis may gotten caught in the jagged rocks near Niagara Falls. Shortly after throwing those personal items away, her bus card was swiped at a nearby bus. Saniyya Dennis, a Buffalo State College student, has been missing since she was captured on surveillance video leaving her residence hall on April 24. It appears that this poor girl took her own life,Erie County District Attorney John Flynnsaidat a news conferenceThursday morning. / CBS News. Why does it take so long to get video footage of buses?. 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. As she was there, she received a text from a friend telling her to call him or else hell call police. IE 11 is not supported. 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. She has a good heart.. Warning: The content may be triggering. 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. Later that day, in another conversation with a male friend in New York City, she said she was planning to die by suicide, Flynn said. This story has been shared 106,229 times. The two remained on the phone for several hours before she later told the male friend she had reconsidered. "The dogs came out yesterday, and today they had the helicopter for the search.". Dennis, of Bronx, New York, is a college sophomore. 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. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. A Buffalo State College student missing since last month may have thrown herself from Niagara Falls after her boyfriend broke up with her, authorities said Thursday. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. 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. Buffalo State University Police says. Mycalia Raine Wilson was last seen at approximately 11:35 p.m. on Tuesday night at the family home, police said. I commend SUNY Buffalo State College, Buffalo State College University Police, New York State Park Police, Niagara Frontier Transit Authority Police, New York State Police, Mayor Byron Brown, Buffalo Police Department, Niagara County Sheriffs Office, Niagara Regional Police, New York Police Department, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies who have dedicated their time and resources to this ongoing investigation. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. 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. It is impossible to prove the photo or image is of a person. Her family members reported her missing to Buffalo State police on April 26, which prompted a widespread investigation. Saniyya Dennis, a Buffalo State College student, has been missing since she was captured on surveillance video leaving her residence hall on April 24. The district attorney and officials indicated they believe Dennis never left Niagara Falls State Park. As a father of five, this is difficult.. We've received your submission. She then sent a text telling him she planned to kill herself, Flynn 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. You can watch DA Flynns full news conference below. He is a native of Fremont. In the meantime, volunteers, friends and family have formed search parties to help find 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.". 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. "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.". The college sophomore was last seen around 11 p.m. on April 24 in surveillance footage leaving her residence hall. Discovery Company. 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. 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. We're all baffled as to what's going on., Keyora Dennis, Dennis' sister, said this was "not of her nature. 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. (Buffalo State College). 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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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. 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. "It appears that this poor girl took her own life," Erie County District Attorney John Flynn told reporters during a morning news conference. Her boyfriend was in New York City the entire time, and is not considered a suspect in her disappearance. 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. The family also raised issues with the Snapchat post Flynn referenced and suggested it could have been doctored. Family said she handed in a school assignment before catching a bus to Niagara Falls. 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.. Did you encounter any technical issues? They asked Flynn not to use to words committed suicide. He slept on it and chose to say Saniyya took her own life.. Understandably, emotions are high right now, but I want to be clear that our department will not rest until Saniyya is found.. 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! 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. Julia Stevens, with Allies for Black Justice, organized several search parties in recent days focused on Goat Island, where police said Saniyya's phone last pinged at 1:23 a.m. on April 25, WKBWreported. All Rights Reserved. Legal Statement. Flynn said all of this information had been communicated to Dennis parents on Wednesday afternoon. 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. Hours later, Dennis told a friend she was going to jump off a bridge and took a selfie with Niagara Falls in the background. 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 . 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. 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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. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Byrd added that there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to his daughter. Officials are asking anyone with information regarding the investigation to contact the University Police Department at Buffalo State College. Missing students are rare at Buffalo State. She also spoke about dying by suicide with a male friend, he added. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Dennis had not been in contact with her family, according to Carey. Saniyya Dennis, 19, was last seen on the SUNY Buffalo State College campus on April 24, the University Police Department (UPD) told CNN. 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. Niagara Falls was in the background. The statement challenged or refuted more than a dozen assertions laid out by Flynn during his news conference. On Friday at 7 p.m., Mishealia Marie Meredith, 19, of Harrisburg, left a home where she. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Saniyya Dennis is seen in this undated released by Buffalo State University Police to help locate, on May 1, 2021. She was last seen. Im so done with my own life, and living it, the text read, according to WIVB. Rather, it is nothing more than a black dot shot from a distance. Thank you to all who have assisted in the search to find Saniyya. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. He added authorities may never find her body because of the rocks below the area where her scent was last picked up. A college sophomore, Dennis was last seen leaving her dorm on April 24. @DAErieCountyNY says #saniyyadennis parents are unaccepting their daughter committed suicide. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Shortly after, Flynn said, she was captured on campus surveillance video leaving her dorm. Ive finally had enough.. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Buffalo State remains in close consultation with and is supporting the Dennis family," Carey said in a statement this weekend. 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. Katherine Conway-Turner, the president of Buffalo State College, expressed her support to Dennis' friends and family on Thursday.