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. All evidence indicates that Saniyya ended her own life, but the investigation into her disappearance will not be closed until she is found. The 19-year-old was last seen on April 24. Officials. 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. They stopped picking up the scent near Goat Island, Flynn said. 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. "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.". 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. 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. DA: Missing Buff State student appears to have died of suicide 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 can't leave if I didn't say I looked at every inch of this park," he told "Good Morning America." All of this information was provided to Dennis parents on Wednesday afternoon. No evidence of foul play was immediately detected, the University Police Department (UPD) at Buffalo State College said. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 14. 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 19-year-old was last seen leaving her dorm room at SUNY Buffalo State College on April 24, authorities said. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Saniyya Dennis, 19, has been missing since Saturday night. Saniyya Dennis, missing Buffalo State College student, took her own 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. An Illinois college student who was last seen leaving a residence on Friday night has been found dead. No all I can do is present you everything I have.. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available 24 hours a day: 1-800-273-8255. Saniyya Dennis, missing Buffalo State College student, took her own 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. 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. It was unclear what the personal items were. Saniyya Dennis, a. Officials are asking anyone with information regarding the investigation to contact the University Police Department at Buffalo State College. She has dark brown hair and brown eyes. Moose on the Loose: Battle to become Yankees shortstop, Activist killed in police-involved shooting, Rep. George Santos introduced his first bill in Congress, Pop-up grocery store opens in Greenwich Village, Expert raises awareness about eating disorders, NY Rep. Dan Goldman talks House ethics probe into, What to know about teens and their mental health, Read Across America Day kicks off at NYC bookstore, Womens History Month: Highlighting women in medicine. "The dogs came out yesterday, and today they had the helicopter for the search.". College student from Bronx missing from Buffalo State - ABC7 New York Officials: Buffalo State College student Saniyya Dennis 'took her own life', U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. UPD described Dennis as a 5 feet, 3 inches tall Black woman weighing 125 pounds. These dismissive acts caused victim blaming and shaming. N.Y., federal police search for college student Saniyya Dennis, who The search continues for missing Buffalo State student Saniyya Dennis BUFFALO, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- There's a tragic update on a missing college student from the Bronx. In that conversation, she had said she was reconsidering what she said about suicide, and was feeling better than she was earlier. 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. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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? Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. She attempted to call him 59 and talked about killing 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! As she was there, she received a text from a friend telling her to call him or else hell call police. She will forever be a member of our Buffalo State family," Conway-Turner added. The college sophomore was last seen around 11 p.m. on April 24 in surveillance footage leaving her residence hall. There exists no evidence that it came from Saniyya A person named Keith K posted it via social media days later. Published: Mar. @DAErieCountyNY says #saniyyadennis parents are unaccepting their daughter committed suicide. Missing College Student Was Found Slain After Telling Mom on Phone She 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. 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. Saniyya Dennis, the New York college student who disappeared last month, died by apparent suicide, officials said Thursday. 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, 19, was last seen on April 24 leaving her residence hall around 11:30 p.m., according to University Police. Dogs were trained to pick up her scent. 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 . New York authorities are searching for missing Buffalo State - CNN 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. A 19-year-old SUNY Buffalo State College sophomore has been missing for more than a week, according to the university and her family. Anyone with information about the search for Vandergrift is asked to call SFPD Tip Line at 415-575 . The family also raised issues with the Snapchat post Flynn referenced and suggested it could have been doctored. Authorities and volunteer search teams are still franticly searching for 19-year-old Saniyya Dennis. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. Parents of missing Buffalo State student 'very concerned' about - MSN Missing NY college student: $10K reward offered after Niagara Falls Saniyya Dennis, 19, was last seen on the SUNY Buffalo State College campus on April 24, the. "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. 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. Katherine Conway-Turner, the president of Buffalo State College, expressed her support to Dennis' friends and family on Thursday. (Buffalo State College). 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. Authorities in New York believe that a missing Buffalo State University sophomore took her own life, but investigators have not found Saniyya Dennis' body. Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. According to the WSP, 49-year-old Denell Kelly . 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. 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. 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Rather, it is nothing more than a black dot shot from a distance. In the meantime, volunteers, friends and family have formed search parties to help find Dennis. All rights reserved. "I would ask that our campus and Western New York community keep her family in your thoughts," she said in a statement. 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 had not been in contact with her family, according to Carey. Dennis family also alleged the college minimized her disappearance as nonurgent conflicting with the district attorneys assertion she died by suicide and accused Flynn of misrepresenting evidence during his news conference, including the video confirming she was in Niagara Falls State Park. Her family told police she may be in the Stall Road area, the Hawthorn Suites on Rivers Avenue in North Charleston or . 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 . 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. / CBS New York. 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. This story has been shared 106,229 times. 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. 4, 2023 at 12:11 PM PST | Updated: moments ago. You can watch DA Flynns full news conference below. Missing Buffalo student's family refutes suicide claim by DA The male friend called Dennis, who picked up and said she was going to jump off a bridge, according to the DA. All rights reserved. Prosecutors say Dennis' boyfriend was in New York City at the time and is not a suspect. Missing Buffalo State College student apparently died by suicide Wilson Wong is a culture and trends reporter for NBC News Digital. 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.. 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. Campus police are working with a variety of local, state and federal agencies to locate Dennis, according to UPD. 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. Authorities are continuing their search for a missing New York college student who disappeared more than a week ago. 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. While authorities have not recovered her body, they believe Dennis died by suicide based on the timeline of her last hours. Published "Looking at Niagara Falls, the area is just filled with rocks," he said. "Understandably, emotions are high right now, but I want to be clear that our department will not rest until Saniyya is found.". 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. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Buffalo State student is still missing, a week after she was last seen on campus. Why does it take so long to get video footage of buses? The family told reporters that they were alerted by one of Dennis' friends that she may have gotten on a bus to Niagara Park. Minutes after that text, her cellphone left the cellular network, meaning it was either powered off or destroyed, according to officials.