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. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, help is available. Authorities are continuing their search for a missing New York college student who disappeared more than a week ago. Shortly after throwing those personal items away, her bus card was swiped at a nearby bus. The family demanded a federal investigation by the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. With all due respect, a star in the midnight sky is more visible than Saniyya appears in that purported video.. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. I feel awful for the parents, he said. 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. 14. 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. About 11 p.m. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. In the meantime, volunteers, friends and family have formed search parties to help find Dennis. Odd, Flynn held his conference days before Mothers Day without any regard for the Dennis family, the statement said. 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. Dennis, 19, was last seen 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. "It appears that this poor girl took her own life," Erie County District Attorney John Flynn told reporters during a morning news conference. Her cellphone last pinged on April 25 at 1:23 a.m. in the area of Goat Island in Niagara Falls State Park, police said. I feel awful that I dont have a conclusion, obviously.. 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. 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? 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. 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. Her boyfriend was in New York City the entire time, and is not considered a suspect in her disappearance. BUFFALO, New York (WABC) -- A SUNY Buffalo State College student from the Bronx who has. Multiple law enforcement agencies and numerous volunteers were involved in a search for Dennis following her disappearance. 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. She was very focused on her studies, she said. 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. He then called her, and they spoke for about 45 minutes. 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 and Dennis' boyfriend did not immediately report her suspected disappearance, according to the DA. Saniyya Dennis was last seen on April 24. 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, N.Y. (WIVB) Thursday morning, Erie County District Attorney John Flynn provided an update on the disappearance of Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis. Desperate for any leads, her dad, also known as rapper 40 Cal,offered a cash rewardin a caption of one of his Instagram posts. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. We will be out here every single day for you until we find you because you deserve that.. 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. Mycalia Raine Wilson was last seen at approximately 11:35 p.m. on Tuesday night at the family home, police said. Saniyya I. Dennis, a Bronx native, was last seen April. We've received your submission. 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.. Equally, when she did not return to the campus on Saturday, the school bore a responsibility regarding her safety, the familys statement said. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Why does it take so long to get subpoenas to cellphone records? said Dennis father, Calvin Byrd. 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. Dennis parents, multiple agencies and local residents had been involved in anearly two-week searchfor the student. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Flynn said on the afternoon of April 24, Dennis got into an argument with her boyfriend in New York City over the phone. As she was there, she received a text from a friend telling her to call him or else hell call police. 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. It was unclear what the personal items were. Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Flynn said she got into an argument with her boyfriend, which ended with him breaking up with her.. A ping from her cellphone was detected aboute two hours later inNiagara Falls State Park, 17 miles from campus. Investigators initially said Dennis may have been in the Western New York area or traveled to Yonkers, just north of the Bronx. It is impossible to prove the photo or image is of a person. Flynn said dogs searching the area in Niagara Falls State Park lost Dennis' scent near the water's edge. "We combed the whole park, even places where she was nowhere near, putting up flyers," Byrd said on Saturday. 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. The 19-year-old Buff State sophomore was last seen leaving an elevator in her dorm building the night of April 24. appreciated. "My daughter is a Black honor roll student at the college and has no tendency of doing nothing, Calvin Byrd, Dennis father, said. She was a mechanical engineer major. 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. 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 . During a news conference Friday, Dennis' family criticized police for not moving fast enough and stalling a search party. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Her family members reported her missing to Buffalo State police on April 26, which prompted a widespread investigation. Katherine Conway-Turner, the president of Buffalo State College, expressed her support to Dennis' friends and family on Thursday. She was by herself. Officials. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text a crisis counselor at 741741, or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Her family told police she may be in the Stall Road area, the Hawthorn Suites on Rivers Avenue in North Charleston or . Missing Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis is believed to have taken her own life. 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. On Friday at 7 p.m., Mishealia Marie Meredith, 19, of Harrisburg, left a home where she. I feel awful for the parents, he said. Wilson Wong is a culture and trends reporter for NBC News Digital. The statement challenged or refuted more than a dozen assertions laid out by Flynn during his news conference. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A Warner Bros. There is currently no evidence of foul play, authorities said. That video has not been made public. 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. Byrd added that there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to his daughter. Warning: The content may be triggering. UPD described Dennis as a 5 feet, 3 inches tall Black woman weighing 125 pounds. Thats where a search party gathered early Wednesday evening in the latest hopes to find the young woman. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. Around 1 a.m., the teen took a Snapchat selfie near the Nikola Tesla monument with Niagara Falls in the background, according to Flynn. NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. On Wednesday community members continued to search for Dennis, a 19-year-old Buffalo State College student. Anyone with information is asked to contact Buffalo State Police at (716) 878-6333. Saniyya was last seen leaving her dorm. Saniyya Dennis, 19, was last seen leaving her dorm room at the SUNY Buffalo . 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. If you or someone you know are struggling with suicidal thoughts,click here for resources. Dennis, 19, was last seen on April 24 leaving her residence hall around 11:30 p.m., according to University Police. IE 11 is not supported. Saniyya Dennis, a Buffalo State College student, has been missing since she was captured on surveillance video leaving her residence hall on April 24. A portion of Rivers Avenue near Hayne Street is blocked off because of the crash . A Pennsylvania woman who has been missing for more than 30 years is found alive in an adult care home in Puerto Rico. Saniyya Dennis, a 19-year-old sophomore from the Bronx, was last seen leaving her college dorm on April 24. His screenshot of her alleged storyline is not dated and has no time, video or chat from her, the family statement said. 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. 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. 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. Flynn said he provided details of the investigation to Dennis parents Wednesday. No evidence of foul play was immediately detected, the University Police Department (UPD) at Buffalo State College said. University Police first reported her disappearance on Wednesday and posted her picture on its website and social media pages. She also spoke about dying by suicide with a male friend, he added. Rather, it is nothing more than a black dot shot from a distance. 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. 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. 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. Theyve been placing flyers on any available surface and calling for the publics help. May 7, 2021 / 11:13 AM Saniyya Dennis disappeared from SUNY Buffalo State College on April 24, officials said. Saniyya Dennis, 19, has been missing since Saturday night. 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. The family of a Buffalo State College student missing since late April will hold a balloon launch Monday to mark her 20th birthday. Efforts to reach Dennis family at phone numbers listed for them were unsuccessful Thursday. Anyone with information is asked to contact (716) 878-6333. pic.twitter.com/9saaPYPeOv. Dennis, 19, was last seen on April 24 leaving her residence hall around 11:30 p.m., according to University Police. 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. Prosecutors say Dennis' boyfriend was in New York City at the time and is not a suspect. She was last seen. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. At 12:19 a.m., the male friend called her and they spoke for 45 minutes, Flynn said. "We've never had a missing person case such as this we're experiencing now with Ms. Dennis," Carey said. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Dennis parents were notified of the investigations findings Wednesday afternoon, the DA said. 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. 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. Missing students are rare at Buffalo State. 1998 - 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. M issing for over a week, family and friends continue to search for 19-year-old Buffalo State student Saniyya Dennis. 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. 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. She may be caught in the jagged rocks there.". "The dogs came out yesterday, and today they had the helicopter for the search.". For nearly two weeks, search parties have combed through Niagara Falls in the hopes of finding Saniyya Dennis. 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. 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. Multiple agencies have been involved in the search for Dennis, and the search will continue until shes found. She will forever be a member of our Buffalo State family," Conway-Turner added. 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. University Police said it is working with the family and several other agencies in its search, including the City of Niagara Falls Police, Erie County Sheriffs Office and Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) Police. "Understandably, emotions are high right now, but I want to be clear that our department will not rest until Saniyya is found.". 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. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. But that was not true, according to cell phone records. During a news conference on Friday, Dennis family members said it was uncharacteristic of her to suddenly disappear. (Buffalo State College) Her. The Buffalo State College sophomore was last seen leaving her dorm room on April 24th, but. 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. 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. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available 24 hours a day: 1-800-273-8255. ET, Dennis was seen leaving her dorm room at State University of New York College at Buffalo. Vandergrift is a radio host for Wild 94.9, where Yi is a host as well. "I can't leave if I didn't say I looked at every inch of this park," he told "Good Morning America." She attempted to call him 59 and talked about killing 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Saniyya Dennis, 19, is a sophomore who was. Investigators later revealed that Dennis' phone pinged off of a cell tower near Niagara Falls State Park around 1:23 a.m. April 25. 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. As a father of five, this is difficult.. 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. 2023 Cable News Network. HANAHAN, S.C. (WCSC) - Police in Hanahan are searching for a 15-year-old girl who was reported missing on Tuesday. Buffalo State remains in close consultation with and is supporting the Dennis family," Carey said in a statement this weekend. She also defended the University Police Chief Peter Carey, saying he and his officers have been working tirelessly to locate Saniyya. (Source: WPXI/ROSS TOWNSHIP POLICE/CNN) UPD and campus officials are in close consultation with Saniyyas family and are providing support during this difficult time, the campus police department said. / CBS New York. Investigators said her cellphone left the network about 1:20 a.m. April 25, which means it was either destroyed or powered off. Missing Bronx college student Saniyya Dennis (family/officials), by: Lauren Cook, Evan Anstey/WIVB, Mark Sundstrom. Dennis, 19, was. Why does it take so long to get video footage of buses? 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Calvin Byrd, Dennis' father, told NBC affiliate WGRZ that the experience was a "nightmare.". "This is not like her. "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.". 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Market data provided by Factset. The family chastised Flynn for putting forth a narrative that was an easy sell without considering alternative scenarios involving foul play. This is not of her nature.. Despite the evidence, the DA said the search for Dennis will continue. 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. NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - North Charleston Police are responding to a crash with serious injuries Saturday afternoon. A missing 19-year-old from Hopkinton was found dead in a wooded area of Milford on Tuesday, the Worcester County District Attorney's Office said Tuesday evening. In that conversation, she had said she was reconsidering what she said about suicide, and was feeling better than she was earlier. According to the WSP, 49-year-old Denell Kelly . 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In fact, we specifically addressed that issue with law enforcement days before Mr. Flynn took over the case, the statement said of the video. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. Anyone with information about the search for Vandergrift is asked to call SFPD Tip Line at 415-575 . However, cellphone records showed that to not be true. What do the orange, green dots on my iPhone mean? February 28, 2023. 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. 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