She also defended the University Police Chief Peter Carey, saying he and his officers have been working tirelessly to locate Saniyya. Saniyya Dennis, 19, was last seen on the SUNY Buffalo State College campus on April 24, the University Police Department (UPD) told CNN. The investigation found no evidence of criminality in the case. 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. Calvin Byrd, Dennis' father, told NBC affiliate WGRZ that the experience was a "nightmare.". 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. "Understandably, emotions are high right now, but I want to be clear that our department will not rest until Saniyya is found.". Legal Statement. Dennis, 19, was last . 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. Saniyya Dennis, a 19-year-old sophomore from the Bronx, was last seen leaving her college dorm on April 24. "I think time is of the essence When it happens like this, it's a very time sensitive matter.". 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. If you or someone you know might be at risk of suicide, there is help. 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. Saniyya Dennis, a Buffalo State College student, has been missing since she was captured on surveillance video leaving her residence hall on April 24. Latisha Dennis says she will put up. Family said Saniyya is an honor student studying mechanical engineering. Flynn said investigators will not definitively know what happened to Dennis until her body is found and an autopsy is conducted. 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All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. "My daughter is a Black honor roll student at the college and has no tendency of doing nothing, Calvin Byrd, Dennis father, said. Investigators initially said Dennis may have been in the Western New York area or traveled to Yonkers, just north of the Bronx. 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. We're all baffled as to what's going on., Keyora Dennis, Dennis' sister, said this was "not of her nature. No evidence of foul play was immediately detected, the University Police Department (UPD) at Buffalo State College said. Missing Bronx college student Saniyya Dennis (family/officials), by: Lauren Cook, Evan Anstey/WIVB, Mark Sundstrom. . Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Dennis, 19, was. 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. In fact, we specifically addressed that issue with law enforcement days before Mr. Flynn took over the case, the statement said of the video. Buffalo State remains in close consultation with and is supporting the Dennis family," Carey said in a statement this weekend. "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. She was last seen leaving her . 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. 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. 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. Warning: The content may be triggering. "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.". He added authorities may never find her body because of the rocks below the area where her scent was last picked up. (Buffalo State College). Legal Statement. "We've never had a missing person case such as this we're experiencing now with Ms. Dennis," Carey said. Prosecutors say Dennis' boyfriend was in New York City at the time and is not a suspect. Dennis, 19, was last seen leaving her dorm on April 24. 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. 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. 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. BUFFALO, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- There's a tragic update on a missing college student from the Bronx. 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. 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 . For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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 this was somebody else's kid, I think it wouldve happened like this," Calvin Byrd, Dennis's father, said at the news conference. The family chastised Flynn for putting forth a narrative that was an easy sell without considering alternative scenarios involving foul play. 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 parents, multiple agencies and local residents had been involved in anearly two-week searchfor the student. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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. They asked Flynn not to use to words committed suicide. He slept on it and chose to say Saniyya took her own life.. Authorities and volunteer search teams are still franticly searching for 19-year-old Saniyya Dennis. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Saniyya Dennis disappeared from SUNY Buffalo State College on April 24, officials said. M issing for over a week, family and friends continue to search for 19-year-old Buffalo State student Saniyya Dennis. If you or someone you know are struggling with suicidal thoughts,click here for resources. "Looking at Niagara Falls, the area is just filled with rocks," he said. That evening, Dennis and her friend stayed on the phone together for about four hours. Published: Mar. No all I can do is present you everything I have.. A Pennsylvania woman who has been missing for more than 30 years is found alive in an adult care home in Puerto Rico. 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. Investigators said her cellphone left the network about 1:20 a.m. April 25, which means it was either destroyed or powered off. Around Midnight, Dennis texted her mother, telling her she loves her and that shell call her the next day. Efforts to reach Dennis family at phone numbers listed for them were unsuccessful Thursday. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, CVS offering on-site mental health services, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, What's next for Buster Murdaugh after dad's murder conviction, life sentence, Patrick Mahomes' brother accused of assault, forcibly kissing owner at bar, Sick trolls leak gruesome Maggie Murdaugh autopsy photo after it was accidentally shown on livestream, Alex Murdaugh shaves head for latest mugshot after learning his fate for killing his wife, son, Prince Harry says hes not a victim: I never looked for sympathy, Allison Holker pens touching note to kids after Stephen tWitch Boss death, Heather Dubrows youngest child, 12, comes out as transgender, Tom Sizemore And The Dangerous Burden of Desperation, March 4, 1984: Martina Navratilova defeats Chris Evert at MSG, Tom Sandoval breaks silence on Ariana Madix split amid cheating claims. A missing New York college student who disappeared last month is believed to have died by suicide, authorities said Thursday. "It appears that this poor [] She was very focused on her studies, she said. Saniyya I. Dennis, a Bronx native, was last seen April. 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. IE 11 is not supported. Anyone with information is asked to contact Buffalo State Police at (716) 878-6333. Dogs were trained to pick up her scent. "I can't leave if I didn't say I looked at every inch of this park," he told "Good Morning America." Authorities in New York believe that a missing Buffalo State University sophomore took her own life, but investigators have not found Saniyya Dennis' body. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. 2023 Cable News Network. A college sophomore, Dennis was last seen leaving her dorm on April 24. NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - North Charleston Police are responding to a crash with serious injuries Saturday afternoon. All evidence indicates that Saniyya ended her own life, but the investigation into her disappearance will not be closed until she is found. CNN Authorities are searching for a New York college sophomore who disappeared over a week ago. 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. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Ive finally had enough.. Dennis, a sophomore at Buffalo State College, disappeared after leaving her dorm on April 24. In that conversation, she had said she was reconsidering what she said about suicide, and was feeling better than she was earlier. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much My office and our partners in law enforcement have found no evidence of any criminality in this case. It was unclear what the personal items were. These dismissive acts caused victim blaming and shaming. February 28, 2023. Saniyya Dennis, 19, is a sophomore who was. Wilson Wong. Several minutes later, her phone left her cellular network. Dennis had not been in contact with her family, according to Carey. "The dogs came out yesterday, and today they had the helicopter for the search.". 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, 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. The 19-year-old Buff State sophomore was last seen leaving an elevator in her dorm building the night of April 24. 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. Understandably, emotions are high right now, but I want to be clear that our department will not rest until Saniyya is found.. 4, 2023 at 12:11 PM PST | Updated: moments ago. Anyone with information about the search for Vandergrift is asked to call SFPD Tip Line at 415-575 . Efforts to reach Dennis' family by phone numbers listed for them were unsuccessful Monday. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, help is available. 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. 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. Dennis texted her mother at Niagara Falls, telling her she would call her the next day, but also sent a message to a friend indicating she wouldnt see him this coming summer, Flynn said. MORE | Family of missing Buffalo State student calls for communitys help, offers reward for students whereabouts. BUFFALO, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- There's a tragic update on a missing college student from the Bronx. Flynn said all of this information had been communicated to Dennis parents on Wednesday afternoon. Saniyya Dennis was last seen on April 24. A ping from her cellphone was detected aboute two hours later inNiagara Falls State Park, 17 miles from campus. They stopped picking up the scent near Goat Island, Flynn said. His screenshot of her alleged storyline is not dated and has no time, video or chat from her, the family statement said. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Vandergrift is a radio host for Wild 94.9, where Yi is a host as well. All rights reserved. Later that day, in another conversation with a male friend in New York City, she said she was planning to die by suicide, Flynn said. 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. UPD and campus officials are in close consultation with Saniyyas family and are providing support during this difficult time, the campus police department said. 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. 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. Saniyya Dennis, 19, was last seen leaving her dorm room at the SUNY Buffalo State College more than a week ago on April 24, authorities said. The 19-year-old was last seen on April 24. Hours later, Dennis told a friend she was going to jump off a bridge and took a selfie with Niagara Falls in the background. 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. 2. 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. The male friend and Dennis' boyfriend did not immediately report her suspected disappearance, according to the DA. ", Saniyya worked two jobs.