An Illinois college student who was last seen leaving a residence on Friday night has been found dead. / CBS New York. 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. 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. This story has been shared 167,794 times. Despite the evidence, the DA said the search for Dennis will continue. 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.. (for youth and family crises): (716) 882-4357. 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. 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. They stopped picking up the scent near Goat Island, Flynn said. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 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. Dogs were trained to pick up her scent. 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 teens parents, meanwhile, had demanded answers last week on why more wasnt being done to find the missing mechanical engineering major, the Buffalo News reported. The Buffalo State College sophomore was last seen leaving her dorm room on April 24th, but. She was by herself. Her father, a former member of the Harlem-based hip-hop group The Diplomats,used his social media presenceto get the word out about his daughters disappearance. Odd, Flynn held his conference days before Mothers Day without any regard for the Dennis family, the statement said. After talking for about an hour, Dennis later told him she was on the bus returning home, which, according to phone records, the DA said was not true. There is currently no evidence of foul play, authorities said. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. She was last seen leaving her . Her family told police she may be in the Stall Road area, the Hawthorn Suites on Rivers Avenue in North Charleston or . 2. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available 24 hours a day: 1-800-273-8255. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The crash was reported around 2:30 p.m. near Trident Tech on Rivers Avenue. The family chastised Flynn for putting forth a narrative that was an easy sell without considering alternative scenarios involving foul play. Legal Statement. 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. Shortly after throwing those personal items away, her bus card was swiped at a nearby bus. "Why does it take so long to get subpoenas to cellphone records? "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). "That's a possibility.". 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Rather, it is nothing more than a black dot shot from a distance. 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?. Buffalo State Police said it obtained surveillance footage of Saniyya at the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) bus terminal in downtown Buffalo, WGRZ reported. . 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. (Courtesy Dennis family) Flynn said on the afternoon of April 24, Dennis got into an argument with her boyfriend in New York City. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace. IE 11 is not supported. Dennis, who is from the Bronx, is described as 5 feet, 3 inches tall, approximately 125 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. "My daughter is a Black honor roll student at the college and has no tendency of doing nothing, Calvin Byrd, Dennis father, said. Dennis Family via Buffalo State University Police, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. "It appears that this poor [] Im so done with my own life, and living it, the text read, according to WIVB. Several minutes later, her phone left her cellular network. Did you encounter any technical issues? 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. Saniyya Dennis was last seen on April 24. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Dennis, a sophomore at Buffalo State College, disappeared after 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,. All evidence indicates that Saniyya ended her own life, but the investigation into her disappearance will not be closed until she is found. (Buffalo State College) Her. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Investigators said her cellphone left the network about 1:20 a.m. April 25, which means it was either destroyed or powered off. 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? What do the orange, green dots on my iPhone mean? His screenshot of her alleged storyline is not dated and has no time, video or chat from her, the family statement said. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. I feel awful for the parents, he said. Dennis, of Bronx, New York, is a college sophomore. She will forever be a member of our Buffalo State family," Conway-Turner added. 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. The family demanded a federal investigation by the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. Legal Statement. Buffalo State remains in close consultation with and is supporting the Dennis family," Carey said in a statement this weekend. While authorities have not recovered her body, they believe Dennis died by suicide based on the timeline of her last hours. 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, a sophomore at Buffalo State College, disappeared after leaving her dorm on April 24. "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. 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. About an hour after that phone conversation ended, Dennis threw personal items into a garbage can. Saniyya Dennis, a Buffalo State College student, has been missing since she was captured on surveillance video leaving her residence hall on April 24. 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. Dennis parents were notified of the investigations findings Wednesday afternoon, the DA said. NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - North Charleston Police are responding to a crash with serious injuries Saturday afternoon. Prosecutors say it appears 19-year-old Saniya Dennis took her own life. Published Dennis had not been in contact with her family, according to Carey. With all due respect, a star in the midnight sky is more visible than Saniyya appears in that purported video.. 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 . Dennis, of Bronx, New York, is a college sophomore. 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.. "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.". 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. 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. According to the DA, video from the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority showed she rode two different buses going toward Niagara Falls. Her family members reported her missing to Buffalo State police on April 26, which prompted a widespread investigation. Missing Bronx college student Saniyya Dennis (family/officials), by: Lauren Cook, Evan Anstey/WIVB, Mark Sundstrom. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Niagara Falls was in the background. 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. "The dogs came out yesterday, and today they had the helicopter for the search.". UPD described Dennis as a 5 feet, 3 inches tall Black woman weighing 125 pounds. Officials are asking anyone with information regarding the investigation to contact the University Police Department at Buffalo State College. During a news conference Friday, Dennis' family criticized police for not moving fast enough and stalling a search party. 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. 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. 2023 Cable News Network. 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, police said. 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? 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. 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. Authorities are continuing their search for a missing New York college student who disappeared more than a week ago. Desperate for any leads, her dad, also known as rapper 40 Cal,offered a cash rewardin a caption of one of his Instagram posts. Cameras last captured 19-year-old Saniyya Dennis leaving her dorm room, last Saturday night For nearly two weeks, search parties have combed through Niagara Falls in the hopes of finding Saniyya Dennis. 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. We've received your submission. 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. Missing SUNY Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis. Saniyya, originally from the Bronx in New York City, is described as a Black female who is 5-foot-3,weighs about125 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It appears that this poor girl took her own life,Erie County District Attorney John Flynnsaidat a news conferenceThursday morning. "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.". "I can't leave if I didn't say I looked at every inch of this park," he told "Good Morning America." If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. This was around 11 p.m. 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. Flynn said all of this information had been communicated to Dennis parents on Wednesday afternoon. Investigators initially said Dennis may have been in the Western New York area or traveled to Yonkers, just north of the Bronx. You can watch DA Flynns full news conference below. May 8, 2021 / 8:30 AM 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 investigation found no evidence of criminality in the case. Authorities are searching for a New York college sophomore who disappeared over a week ago. 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. Understandably, emotions are high right now, but I want to be clear that our department will not rest until Saniyya is found.. According to investigators, her boyfriend broke up with her that day. Flynn said he provided details of the investigation to Dennis parents Wednesday. 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. No evidence of foul play was immediately detected, the University Police Department (UPD) at Buffalo State College 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, 19, was last seen leaving her dorm room at the SUNY Buffalo . Saniyya was last seen leaving her dorm. 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. Julia Stevens went on to say, If Saniyya is out there and shes watching these efforts, if shes in danger or incapacitated we would say dont give up hope, we are leaving no stone unturned. 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. Shortly after, Flynn said, she was captured on campus surveillance video leaving her dorm. Her father, Calvin Byrd, has since traveled to Niagara Falls to search for his daughter. Minutes after that, her cell phone left the cellular network, meaning it was either powered off or destroyed. Saniyya Dennis disappeared from SUNY Buffalo State College on April 24, officials said. She was then spotted by park cameras along a trail at 12:17 a.m. on April 25 Flynn said this was the last time she was seen on video. Saniyya Dennis is seen in this undated released by Buffalo State University Police to help locate, on May 1, 2021. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. "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. Multiple agencies have been involved in the search for Dennis, and the search will continue until shes found. 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. This is not of her nature," Saniyyas sister, Keyora Dennis, said at a recent press conference Friday. I feel awful that I dont have a conclusion, obviously.. "We combed the whole park, even places where she was nowhere near, putting up flyers," Byrd said on Saturday. Minutes after that text, her cellphone left the cellular network, meaning it was either powered off or destroyed, according to officials. This is not like her, Dennis sister said at the press conference Friday, CNN affiliate WKBW reported. The 19-year-old Buff State sophomore was last seen leaving an elevator in her dorm building the night of April 24. 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. She has a good heart.. May 7, 2021 / 11:13 AM Mycalia Raine Wilson was last seen at approximately 11:35 p.m. on Tuesday night at the family home, police said. 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. 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. It was unclear what the personal items were. Erie Countys Crisis Hotline is available 24 hours a day: 716-834-3131. Buffalo State University Police says. Saniyya Dennis, a. Saniyya Dennis, 19, was last seen on the SUNY Buffalo State College campus on April 24, the. She was last seen April 24 leaving her dorm at Buffalo State College. As she was there, she received a text from a friend telling her to call him or else hell call police. ", Saniyya worked two jobs. However, cellphone records showed that to not be true. Ive finally had enough.. Authorities in New York believe that a missing Buffalo State University sophomore took her own life, but investigators have not found Saniyya Dennis' body. That evening, Dennis and her friend stayed on the phone together for about four hours. Why does it take so long to get video footage of buses? BUFFALO, N.Y. Family and friends of a missing Buffalo State student are hoping that she is found safely. Missing Buffalo State student Saniyya Dennis. But that was not true, according to cell phone records. 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. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. "Understandably, emotions are high right now, but I want to be clear that our department will not rest until Saniyya is found.". 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. About 11 p.m. Family said Saniyya is an honor student studying mechanical engineering. At 12:19 a.m., the male friend called her and they spoke for 45 minutes, Flynn said. As a father of five, this is difficult.. 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. Officials: Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis 'took her own life', U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Byrd added that there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to his daughter. Multiple law enforcement agencies and numerous volunteers were involved in a search for Dennis following her disappearance. Efforts to reach Dennis family at phone numbers listed for them were unsuccessful Thursday. M issing for over a week, family and friends continue to search for 19-year-old Buffalo State student Saniyya Dennis. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text a crisis counselor at 741741, or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org. It appears this poor girl took her own life, Flynn says. BUFFALO, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- There's a tragic update on a missing college student from the Bronx. "I would ask that our campus and Western New York community keep her family in your thoughts," she said in a statement. Wilson Wong is a culture and trends reporter for NBC News Digital. 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. Saniyya Dennis, a 19-year-old sophomore from the Bronx, was last seen leaving her college dorm on April 24. Her boyfriend was in New York City the entire time, and is not considered a suspect in her disappearance. Striking, his post is a screenshot of what is alleged to be a snapchat from Saniyya. The 19-year-old was last seen on April 24. 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.