Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, help is available. All rights reserved. Byrd added that there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to his daughter. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "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. 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 was last seen. Dennis parents were notified of the investigations findings Wednesday afternoon, the DA 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! The district attorney and officials indicated they believe Dennis never left Niagara Falls State Park. No all I can do is present you everything I have.. Saniyya Dennis, 19, was last seen on the SUNY Buffalo State College campus on April 24, the. 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,. 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. "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.". You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Published: Mar. 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. Calvin Byrd, Dennis' father, told NBC affiliate WGRZ that the experience was a "nightmare.". Dennis, 19, was last seen leaving her dorm on April 24. Shortly after, Flynn said, she was captured on campus surveillance video leaving her dorm. 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. A portion of Rivers Avenue near Hayne Street is blocked off because of the crash . The statement challenged or refuted more than a dozen assertions laid out by Flynn during his news conference. Anyone with information is asked to contact (716) 878-6333. pic.twitter.com/9saaPYPeOv. 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. 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.. 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. 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. Around 1 a.m., the teen took a Snapchat selfie near the Nikola Tesla monument with Niagara Falls in the background, according to Flynn. 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. You can watch DA Flynns full news conference below. Milford . Theyve been placing flyers on any available surface and calling for the publics help. Missing SUNY Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis. "It appears that this poor girl took her own life," Erie County District Attorney John Flynn told reporters during a morning news conference. During a news conference on Friday, Dennis family members said it was uncharacteristic of her to suddenly disappear. Dennis, 19, was last seen on April 24 leaving her residence hall around 11:30 p.m., according to University Police. 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. They stopped picking up the scent near Goat Island, Flynn said. Dogs were trained to pick up her scent. Dennis Family via Buffalo State University Police, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. We're all baffled as to what's going on., Keyora Dennis, Dennis' sister, said this was "not of her nature. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 2:18 AM EDT, Mon May 3, 2021. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. MORE | Family of missing Buffalo State student calls for communitys help, offers reward for students whereabouts. (Buffalo State College). 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. "Why does it take so long to get subpoenas to cellphone records? That evening, Dennis and her friend stayed on the phone together for about four hours. Investigators later revealed that Dennis' phone pinged off of a cell tower near Niagara Falls State Park around 1:23 a.m. April 25. Prosecutors say it appears 19-year-old Saniya Dennis took her own life. 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. 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. 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. Saniyya Dennis, a 19-year-old sophomore from the Bronx, was last seen leaving her college dorm on April 24. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Dennis, who is from the Bronx, is described as 5 feet, 3 inches tall, approximately 125 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. Some are going to say without a body, do youdefinitelyknow that she took her own life? Flynn continued. Market data provided by Factset. I feel awful for the parents, he said. HANAHAN, S.C. (WCSC) - Police in Hanahan are searching for a 15-year-old girl who was reported missing on Tuesday. Saniyya Dennis is seen in this undated released by Buffalo State University Police to help locate, on May 1, 2021. According to the DA, video from the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority showed she rode two different buses going toward Niagara Falls. If this was somebody else's kid, I think it wouldve happened like this," Calvin Byrd, Dennis's father, said at the news conference. The investigation found no evidence of criminality in the case. BUFFALO, N.Y. Family and friends of a missing Buffalo State student are hoping that she is found safely. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, It was unclear what the personal items were. ET, Dennis was seen leaving her dorm room at State University of New York College at Buffalo. The family of a SUNY Buffalo State College student who has been missing since Saturday, April 24 is asking the public for help in finding her. She will forever be a member of our Buffalo State family," Conway-Turner added. Buffalo State Police said it obtained surveillance footage of Saniyya at the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) bus terminal in downtown Buffalo, WGRZ reported. BUFFALO, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- There's a tragic update on a missing college student from the Bronx. This was around 11 p.m. 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. 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. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. 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 Buffalo State College sophomore was last seen leaving her dorm room on April 24th, but. "There is a possibility that if we believe what happened happened, we may never find her body," he said. (Source: WPXI/ROSS TOWNSHIP POLICE/CNN) Ive finally had enough.. Katherine Conway-Turner, the president of Buffalo State College, expressed her support to Dennis' friends and family on Thursday. Flynn said on the afternoon of April 24, Dennis got into an argument with her boyfriend in New York City over the phone. An Illinois college student who was last seen leaving a residence on Friday night has been found dead. 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. "That's a possibility.". appreciated. Dennis, of Bronx, New York, is a college sophomore. 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. Her family members reported her missing to Buffalo State police on April 26, which prompted a widespread investigation. Warning: The content may be triggering. Her family told police she may be in the Stall Road area, the Hawthorn Suites on Rivers Avenue in North Charleston or . The male friend and Dennis' boyfriend did not immediately report her suspected disappearance, according to the DA. Dennis, a sophomore at Buffalo State College, disappeared after leaving her dorm on April 24. Wilson Wong. All of this information was provided to Dennis parents on Wednesday afternoon. 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. 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. In the meantime, volunteers, friends and family have formed search parties to help find Dennis. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text a crisis counselor at 741741, or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org. 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. She was last seen leaving her . It appears this poor girl took her own life, Flynn says. Her boyfriend was in New York City the entire time, and is not considered a suspect in her disappearance. Saniyya Dennis, the New York college student who disappeared last month, died by apparent suicide, officials said Thursday. Discovery Company. Missing students are rare at Buffalo State. Investigators initially said Dennis may have been in the Western New York area or traveled to Yonkers, just north of the Bronx. 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.. Mycalia Raine Wilson was last seen at approximately 11:35 p.m. on Tuesday night at the family home, police said. 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. Erie Countys Crisis Hotline is available 24 hours a day: 716-834-3131. He added authorities may never find her body because of the rocks below the area where her scent was last picked up. 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. Authorities are continuing their search for a missing New York college student who disappeared more than a week ago. 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. 2023 Cable News Network. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. Wilson Wong is a culture and trends reporter for NBC News Digital. Latisha Dennis says she will put up. / CBS News. 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, a Buffalo State College student, has been missing since she was captured on surveillance video leaving her residence hall on April 24. UPD and campus officials are in close consultation with Saniyyas family and are providing support during this difficult time, the campus police department said. . Authorities are searching for a New York college sophomore who disappeared over a week ago. 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. Yesterday afternoon, members of my office met with the family of Saniyya Dennis to provide an update on the investigation into her disappearance. 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. A ping from her cellphone was detected aboute two hours later inNiagara Falls State Park, 17 miles from campus. 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. 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. Dennis parents, multiple agencies and local residents had been involved in anearly two-week searchfor the student. This is not of her nature," Saniyyas sister, Keyora Dennis, said at a recent press conference Friday. She may be caught in the jagged rocks there.". Investigators said her cellphone left the network about 1:20 a.m. April 25, which means it was either destroyed or powered off. This is not of her nature.. 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. Contact Crisis Services 24-hour hotline for support: 716-834-3131. That video has not been made public. ", Saniyya worked two jobs. 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. Cameras last captured 19-year-old Saniyya Dennis leaving her dorm room, last Saturday night This story has been shared 167,794 times. Authorities are continuing their search for a missing New York college student who disappeared more than a week ago. She attempted to call him 59 and talked about killing herself, Flynn said. Carey said during a news conference Friday that investigators have found no cell phone, electronic or financial activity since Dennis disappeared. "She was a good friend, a good person. 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. Authorities in New York believe that a missing Buffalo State University sophomore took her own life, but investigators have not found Saniyya Dennis' body. Flynn said she got into an argument with her boyfriend, which ended with him breaking up with her. Buffalo State University Police says. "We combed the whole park, even places where she was nowhere near, putting up flyers," Byrd said on Saturday. 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. NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. On Wednesday community members continued to search for Dennis, a 19-year-old Buffalo State College student. Multiple law enforcement agencies and numerous volunteers were involved in a search for Dennis following her disappearance. She was by herself. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. "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.". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Flynn said investigators will not definitively know what happened to Dennis until her body is found and an autopsy is conducted. 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. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace. 4, 2023 at 12:11 PM PST | Updated: moments ago. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. 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. Efforts to reach Dennis family at phone numbers listed for them were unsuccessful Thursday. or redistributed. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "Understandably, emotions are high right now, but I want to be clear that our department will not rest until Saniyya is found.". Prosecutors say Dennis' boyfriend was in New York City at the time and is not a suspect. Why does it take so long to get video footage of buses? Erie County District Attorney John Flynn held a news briefing Thursday during which he outlined a timeline of events and evidence that he said led to the conclusion that Dennis took her own life.. With all due respect, a star in the midnight sky is more visible than Saniyya appears in that purported video.. 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.