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. Published: Mar. 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. There exists no evidence that it came from Saniyya A person named Keith K posted it via social media days later. ", Saniyya worked two jobs. Desperate for any leads, her dad, also known as rapper 40 Cal,offered a cash rewardin a caption of one of his Instagram posts. 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. Prosecutors say it appears 19-year-old Saniya Dennis took her own life. About 20 minutes later, she texted a male friend, telling him that she spoke with her mom and was on her way back to Buffalo. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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?. "An exhaustive search and review of the evidence has. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. She may be caught in the jagged rocks there.". Authorities are continuing their search for a missing New York college student who disappeared more than a week ago. Dennis called her boyfriend, who was in New York City at the time, 59 times in the next several hours, but he didnt pick up. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. According to investigators, her boyfriend broke up with her that day. Saniyya Dennis, a Buffalo State College student, has been missing since she was captured on surveillance video leaving her residence hall on April 24. Legal Statement. Thank you to all who have assisted in the search to find Saniyya. Byrd added that there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to his daughter. Saniyya Dennis, a Buffalo State College student, has been missing since she was captured on surveillance video leaving her residence hall on April 24. Prosecutors say Dennis' boyfriend was in New York City at the time and is not a suspect. All Rights Reserved. During a news conference on Friday, Dennis family members said it was uncharacteristic of her to suddenly disappear. 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. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available 24 hours a day: 1-800-273-8255. Understandably, emotions are high right now, but I want to be clear that our department will not rest until Saniyya is found.. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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
[email protected]. In that conversation, she had said she was reconsidering what she said about suicide, and was feeling better than she was earlier. Published What do the orange, green dots on my iPhone mean? Saniyya Dennis, a Buffalo State College student, has been missing since she was captured on surveillance video leaving her residence hall on April 24. Family and supporters of missing Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis have been looking for leads in the case in Niagara Falls. "We've never had a missing person case such as this we're experiencing now with Ms. Dennis," Carey said. Market data provided by Factset. 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. Missing SUNY Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis. 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. 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.. 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. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Did you encounter any technical issues? (Buffalo State College) Her. 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. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. I feel awful that I dont have a conclusion, obviously.. 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 will forever be a member of our Buffalo State family," Conway-Turner added. Legal Statement. I feel awful for the parents, he said. Niagara Falls was in the background. On Friday at 7 p.m., Mishealia Marie Meredith, 19, of Harrisburg, left a home where she. The two remained on the phone for several hours before she later told the male friend she had reconsidered. Missing SUNY Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis. There is currently no evidence of foul play, authorities said. / CBS News. About 11 p.m. 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. 14. 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. (Buffalo State College). 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. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) The case of a missing Buffalo State student continues, it's been more than a week since Saniyya Dennis was last seen. You can watch DA Flynns full news conference below. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Buffalo State student is still missing, a week after she was last seen on campus. If you or someone you know might be at risk of suicide, there is help. I feel awful for the parents, he said. All rights reserved. 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. UPD described Dennis as a 5 feet, 3 inches tall Black woman weighing 125 pounds. Contact Crisis Services 24-hour hotline for support: 716-834-3131. 2:18 AM EDT, Mon May 3, 2021. Her father, Calvin Byrd, has since traveled to Niagara Falls to search for his daughter. February 28, 2023. Dennis parents were notified of the investigations findings Wednesday afternoon, the DA said. "That's a possibility.". Saniyya Dennis, 19, was last seen leaving her dorm room at the SUNY Buffalo . "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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. We're all baffled as to what's going on., Keyora Dennis, Dennis' sister, said this was "not of her nature. Dennis, 19, was last seen leaving her dorm on April 24. 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. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Thats where a search party gathered early Wednesday evening in the latest hopes to find the young woman. Flynn said on the afternoon of April 24, Dennis got into an argument with her boyfriend in New York City over the phone. University Police has circulated her information statewide to police agencies and hospitals through the New York State Missing Persons Clearinghouse. Katherine Conway-Turner, the president of Buffalo State College, expressed her support to Dennis' friends and family on Thursday. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. It is impossible to prove the photo or image is of a person. 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. "Why does it take so long to get subpoenas to cellphone records? "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. "She was a good friend, a good person. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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 . The crash was reported around 2:30 p.m. near Trident Tech on Rivers Avenue. The day she disappeared,Dennishad an argument with her boyfriend that led to him breaking up with her,Flynnsaid. 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. 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. The male friend called Dennis, who picked up and said she was going to jump off a bridge, according to the DA. Theyve been placing flyers on any available surface and calling for the publics help. 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. As a father of five, this is difficult.. For more information, visit CrisisServices.org. Carey said during a news conference Friday that investigators have found no cell phone, electronic or financial activity since Dennis disappeared. Flynn said she got into an argument with her boyfriend, which ended with him breaking up with her. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. No all I can do is present you everything I have.. Some are going to say without a body, do youdefinitelyknow that she took her own life? Flynn continued. "There is a possibility that if we believe what happened happened, we may never find her body," he said. The 19-year-old Buff State sophomore was last seen leaving an elevator in her dorm building the night of April 24. Anyone with information is asked to contact Buffalo State Police at (716) 878-6333. 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. According to the DA, video from the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority showed she rode two different buses going toward Niagara Falls. 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. "The dogs came out yesterday, and today they had the helicopter for the search.". John Flynn, the district attorney in Erie County, said officials have not discovered the body of 19-year-old Saniyya Dennis but said "evidence suggests" she took her own life. Saniyya Dennis, a. This was around 11 p.m. 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. Saniyya Dennis,. appreciated. CNN Authorities are searching for a New York college sophomore who disappeared over a week ago. Vandergrift is a radio host for Wild 94.9, where Yi is a host as well. "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.". Anyone with information is asked to contact (716) 878-6333. pic.twitter.com/9saaPYPeOv. 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. 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. If this was somebody else's kid, I think it wouldve happened like this," Calvin Byrd, Dennis's father, said at the news conference. Odd, Flynn held his conference days before Mothers Day without any regard for the Dennis family, the statement said. Minutes after that text, her cellphone left the cellular network, meaning it was either powered off or destroyed, according to officials. Shortly after throwing those personal items away, her bus card was swiped at a nearby bus. Im so done with my own life, and living it, the text read, according to WIVB. Wilson Wong is a culture and trends reporter for NBC News Digital. An Illinois college student who was last seen leaving a residence on Friday night has been found dead. MORE | Family of missing Buffalo State student calls for communitys help, offers reward for students whereabouts. Despite the evidence, the DA said the search for Dennis will continue. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. With all due respect, a star in the midnight sky is more visible than Saniyya appears in that purported video.. Dogs were trained to pick up her scent. 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. She has dark brown hair and brown eyes. 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. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. However, cellphone records showed that to not be true. 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. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - North Charleston Police are responding to a crash with serious injuries Saturday afternoon. 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. Dennis, a sophomore at Buffalo State College, disappeared after leaving her dorm on April 24. We will be out here every single day for you until we find you because you deserve that.. Dennis parents, multiple agencies and local residents had been involved in anearly two-week searchfor the student. 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. Saturday, the search for her continued, with family and friends again canvassing Niagara Falls State Park and the surrounding area. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. She also defended the University Police Chief Peter Carey, saying he and his officers have been working tirelessly to locate Saniyya. 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 had not been in contact with her family, according to Carey. "If what I believe happened, happened, we may never find the body. Ive finally had enough.. "Understandably, emotions are high right now, but I want to be clear that our department will not rest until Saniyya is found. 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. But Flynn says her body may not be able to be recovered.