Saniyya Dennis, a 19-year-old female student at SUNY Buffalo State College, was last seen on the evening of April 24, 2021, in Buffalo, New York. An honor student from the Bronx, she was last seen on surveillance footage leaving her dormitory around 11 p.m. In the time leading up to her disappearance, she had been involved in an argument with her boyfriend, which resulted in their breakup.
Distraught, she made numerous attempts to contact him and also expressed thoughts of self-harm to a male friend. Investigators later determined that after leaving her dorm, she discarded personal items, suggesting she did not intend to return.
Following her departure from the college campus, Saniyya's movements were tracked through surveillance footage and bus records. She took two separate buses, traveling alone, to the area of Niagara Falls State Park. Her last known location was believed to be on Goat Island, where her cell phone last pinged in the early morning hours of April 25. Park cameras captured her along a trail at 12:17 a.m., which was the last time she was seen on video. She had a 45-minute phone conversation with a male friend around 12:19 a.m. and later sent a text message shortly after 1:20 a.m. A few minutes after that, her phone disconnected from the cellular network.
An extensive multi-agency search was launched, focusing heavily on the Niagara Falls area, particularly around Goat Island. Despite these efforts, her body has not been recovered. The Erie County District Attorney announced that based on a thorough review of the evidence, it is believed that Saniyya took her own life. This evidence included her actions prior to her disappearance, conversations with friends, and her last known location. However, Saniyya's family has expressed disagreement with the conclusion of suicide, raising questions and suggesting that foul play could be involved. The investigation into her disappearance remains open until she is found, leaving a painful void for her family and community.Last Seen: Apr 24, 2021
