Missing Buffalo State student Saniyya Dennis. 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. @DAErieCountyNY says #saniyyadennis parents are unaccepting their daughter committed suicide. Authorities and volunteer search teams are still franticly searching for 19-year-old Saniyya Dennis. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The body, believed to be that of a missing Buffalo State College student, was found in a shallow grave Friday morning in a wooded area near Snow's Marina on the Lake Erie shoreline, police said . Authorities are continuing their search for a missing New York college student who disappeared more than a week ago. Dogs were trained to pick up her scent. This is not like her, Dennis sister said at the press conference Friday, CNN affiliate WKBW reported. Family said she handed in a school assignment before catching a bus to Niagara Falls. "There is a possibility that if we believe what happened happened, we may never find her body," he said. Several minutes later, her phone left her cellular network. She was a mechanical engineer major. 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. It was unclear what the personal items were. BUFFALO, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- There's a tragic update on a missing college student from the Bronx. (for youth and family crises): (716) 882-4357. The 19-year-old was last seen leaving her dorm room at SUNY Buffalo State College on April 24, authorities said. She may be caught in the jagged rocks there.". Why does it take so long to get video footage of buses?. Discovery Company. There is currently no evidence of foul play, authorities said. (Courtesy Dennis family) Flynn said on the afternoon of April 24, Dennis got into an argument with her boyfriend in New York City. Saniyya Dennis, 19, has been missing since Saturday night. (Buffalo State College). 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. Multiple law enforcement agencies and numerous volunteers were involved in a search for Dennis following her disappearance. Officials. 2:18 AM EDT, Mon May 3, 2021. 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. You can watch DA Flynns full news conference below. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. If you or someone you know are struggling with suicidal thoughts,click here for resources. Saniyya Dennis is seen in this undated released by Buffalo State University Police to help locate, on May 1, 2021. 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. 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. 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A Pennsylvania woman who has been missing for more than 30 years is found alive in an adult care home in Puerto Rico. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Buffalo State student is still missing, a week after she was last seen on campus. The college sophomore was last seen around 11 p.m. on April 24 in surveillance footage leaving her residence hall. Her father, Calvin Byrd, has since traveled to Niagara Falls to search for his daughter. University Police is working with police agencies at the local, stateand federal level, Carey said. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Efforts to reach Dennis family at phone numbers listed for them were unsuccessful Thursday. 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. "This is not like her. I feel awful for the parents, he said. 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. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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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. These dismissive acts caused victim blaming and shaming. For more information, visit CrisisServices.org. "I can't leave if I didn't say I looked at every inch of this park," he told "Good Morning America." My office and our partners in law enforcement have found no evidence of any criminality in this case. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Family said Saniyya is an honor student studying mechanical engineering. This story has been shared 167,794 times. Flynn said investigators will not definitively know what happened to Dennis until her body is found and an autopsy is conducted. She then sent a text telling him she planned to kill herself, Flynn said. 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! She also texted her friend, saying she wouldnt see him this summer. As she was there, she received a text from a friend telling her to call him or else hell call police. Legal Statement. Erie Countys Crisis Hotline is available 24 hours a day: 716-834-3131. BUFFALO, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- There's a tragic update on a missing college student from the Bronx. 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. Shortly after throwing those personal items away, her bus card was swiped at a nearby bus. Prosecutors say it appears 19-year-old Saniya Dennis took her own life. Dennis, 19, was last . She was very focused on her studies, she 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. Saniyya Dennis, the 19-year-old SUNY Buffalo State College who went missing last month, died by apparent suicide, according to officials. Desperate for any leads, her dad, also known as rapper 40 Cal,offered a cash rewardin a caption of one of his Instagram posts. "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. Saniyya was last seen leaving her dorm. Contact Crisis Services 24-hour hotline for support: 716-834-3131. 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. 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 State Police said it obtained surveillance footage of Saniyya at the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) bus terminal in downtown Buffalo, WGRZ reported. 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. 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. 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. Flynn said dogs searching the area in Niagara Falls State Park lost Dennis' scent near the water's edge. 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! Dennis, a sophomore at Buffalo State College, disappeared after leaving her dorm on April 24. 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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! They asked Flynn not to use to words committed suicide. He slept on it and chose to say Saniyya took her own life.. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. "Why does it take so long to get subpoenas to cellphone records? Efforts to reach Dennis' family by phone numbers listed for them were unsuccessful Monday. 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. 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. University Police has circulated her information statewide to police agencies and hospitals through the New York State Missing Persons Clearinghouse. Anyone with information about the search for Vandergrift is asked to call SFPD Tip Line at 415-575 . 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. 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. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. A 19-year-old SUNY Buffalo State College sophomore has been missing for more than a week, according to the university and her family. Multiple agencies have been involved in the search for Dennis, and the search will continue until shes found. "We combed the whole park, even places where she was nowhere near, putting up flyers," Byrd said on Saturday. Please enter valid email address to continue. It is impossible to prove the photo or image is of a person. Updated: 11:33 PM EDT May 3, 2021 BUFFALO, N.Y. 2 On Your Side continues to ask the tough questions on the search for Saniyya Dennis, the missing Buffalo State student who hasn't been. Investigators said her cellphone left the network about 1:20 a.m. April 25, which means it was either destroyed or powered off. Campus police are working with a variety of local, state and federal agencies to locate Dennis, according to UPD. The statement challenged or refuted more than a dozen assertions laid out by Flynn during his news conference. 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. 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. 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. M issing for over a week, family and friends continue to search for 19-year-old Buffalo State student Saniyya Dennis. 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.. Investigators initially said Dennis may have been in the Western New York area or traveled to Yonkers, just north of the Bronx. The investigation found no evidence of criminality in the case. 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. Did you encounter any technical issues? Investigators later revealed that Dennis' phone pinged off of a cell tower near Niagara Falls State Park around 1:23 a.m. April 25. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. A missing New York college student who disappeared last month is believed to have died by suicide, authorities said Thursday. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. "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.". Carey said during a news conference Friday that investigators have found no cell phone, electronic or financial activity since Dennis disappeared. 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. 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. The male friend and Dennis' boyfriend did not immediately report her suspected disappearance, according to the DA. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Saniyya Dennis,. Legal Statement. Minutes after that text, her cellphone left the cellular network, meaning it was either powered off or destroyed, according to officials. The Buffalo State College sophomore was last seen leaving her dorm room on April 24th, but. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Some are going to say without a body, do youdefinitelyknow that she took her own life? Flynn continued. Flynn said all of this information had been communicated to Dennis parents on Wednesday afternoon. 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. 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. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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.. The family demanded a federal investigation by the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. The 19-year-old Buff State sophomore was last seen leaving an elevator in her dorm building the night of April 24. / CBS New York. Published It appears this poor girl took her own life, Flynn says. According to investigators, her boyfriend broke up with her that day. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. That evening, Dennis and her friend stayed on the phone together for about four hours. 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. 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. Yesterday afternoon, members of my office met with the family of Saniyya Dennis to provide an update on the investigation into her disappearance. "The dogs came out yesterday, and today they had the helicopter for the search.". Saniyya Dennis, the New York college student who disappeared last month, died by apparent suicide, officials said Thursday. 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. Latisha Dennis says she will put up. Saniyya I. Dennis, a Bronx native, was last seen April. The family told reporters that they were alerted by one of Dennis' friends that she may have gotten on a bus to Niagara Park. Odd, Flynn held his conference days before Mothers Day without any regard for the Dennis family, the statement said. "I think time is of the essence When it happens like this, it's a very time sensitive matter.". Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. About an hour after that phone conversation ended, Dennis threw personal items into a garbage can. Dennis, 19, was last seen on April 24 leaving her residence hall around 11:30 p.m., according to University Police. Saniyya Dennis, a Buffalo State College student, has been missing since she was captured on surveillance video leaving her residence hall on April 24. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Family and supporters of missing Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis have been looking for leads in the case in Niagara Falls. The 19-year-old was last seen on April 24. (Buffalo State College) Her. Saniyya Dennis, a. In that conversation, she had said she was reconsidering what she said about suicide, and was feeling better than she was earlier. 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. Published: Mar. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Market data provided by Factset. His screenshot of her alleged storyline is not dated and has no time, video or chat from her, the family statement said. "Understandably, emotions are high right now, but I want to be clear that our department will not rest until Saniyya is found.". She attempted to call him 59 and talked about killing herself, Flynn 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. "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.". Heres a list of where to volunteer in NYC: Lex Lumpkin talks about new show The Watchful Eye, Debunking food safety myths with a chefs help, Fun, easy Holi-inspired crafts to try with kids, Spot warning signs of teens declining mental health, Simple spring break cocktails to make at home, Patrick Kane to make Rangers debut against Senators, Rangers KAndre Miller suspended 3 games for spitting, Kane incoming? Around Midnight, Dennis texted her mother, telling her she loves her and that shell call her the next day. What do the orange, green dots on my iPhone mean? No all I can do is present you everything I have.. 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. There exists no evidence that it came from Saniyya A person named Keith K posted it via social media days later. "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). 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. The two remained on the phone for several hours before she later told the male friend she had reconsidered. 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. 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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. She has dark brown hair and brown eyes. 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 . Mycalia Raine Wilson was last seen at approximately 11:35 p.m. on Tuesday night at the family home, police said. During a news conference Friday, Dennis' family criticized police for not moving fast enough and stalling a search party. Understandably, emotions are high right now, but I want to be clear that our department will not rest until Saniyya is found.. Authorities are continuing their search for a missing New York college student who disappeared more than a week ago. Saturday, the search for her continued, with family and friends again canvassing. Wilson Wong is a culture and trends reporter for NBC News Digital. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - North Charleston Police are responding to a crash with serious injuries Saturday afternoon. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. 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. The family chastised Flynn for putting forth a narrative that was an easy sell without considering alternative scenarios involving foul play. Why does it take so long to get subpoenas to cellphone records? said Dennis father, Calvin Byrd. "That's a possibility.". Fox News Flash top headlines are here. "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. "Understandably, emotions are high right now, but I want to be clear that our department will not rest until Saniyya is found. She was last seen leaving her . 14. 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. "If what I believe happened, happened, we may never find the body. CNN Authorities are searching for a New York college sophomore who disappeared over a week ago. 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. 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. Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Missing Bronx college student Saniyya Dennis (family/officials), by: Lauren Cook, Evan Anstey/WIVB, Mark Sundstrom. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Saturday, the search for her continued, with family and friends again canvassing Niagara Falls State Park and the surrounding area. For nearly two weeks, search parties have combed through Niagara Falls in the hopes of finding Saniyya Dennis. Officials: Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis 'took her own life', U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Wilson Wong is a culture and trends reporter for NBC News Digital. Missing SUNY Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis. We've received your submission. However, cellphone records showed that to not be true. Buffalo State remains in close consultation with and is supporting the Dennis family," Carey said in a statement this weekend.

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