The Seneca County sheriff's office has suspended its search for the 22-year-old Cornell University senior, Christopher Ting Fung Dennis, who disappeared while canoeing on Cayuga Lake, May 22.
"Today, with great sadness, after consulting with the Dennis family, we have officially suspended our water search efforts," Seneca County Sheriff Jack Stenberg said. "Since Chris went missing on Wednesday, we have employed all available land, air and water resources in our efforts to locate him without success. While our official search efforts have been suspended, we will maintain a presence on Cayuga Lake for the foreseeable future and track down any and all leads."
Dennis, an Ithaca native and a Sun videographer, was camping with his friends earlier in the week in Trumansburg, north of Taughannock State Park. At 5 a.m., he left the campground alone and was last seen canoeing early Wednesday morning. Dennis launched his boat from a campsite near Sheldrake Point in the Town of Ovid. He was wearing blue and red shorts and no shirt.
When Dennis did not return to the campsite, his friends started searching for him and discovered an overturned canoe floating in the middle of the Cayuga Lake around 12:30 p.m. They immediately made a 911 call. There was no damage to the canoe.
Dennis was a senior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
"Our Cornell community mourns the loss of Chris Dennis, an active and caring Cornell senior and Ithacan, and we offer our heartfelt condolences to Chris' family and many local friends," said Susan Murphy, vice president for student and academic services. "Chris would have joined his fellow classmates, family and friends at Commencement ceremonies this past weekend, and his loss at this otherwise joyous and hopeful time on our campus is especially tragic."
Dennis was remembered for his sense of adventure and independence.
"He always brings a smile to my face," Anna-Lisa Castle, a volunteer coordinator and Dennis' college said. "He almost has a child's spirit but with adult's perspective. There's just something really special about him." He was to film an anti-fracking documentary this summer.
About 100 Cornell students, a state police helicopter, New York State Police, New York State Park Police, Yates County Sheriff, family members, more than 50 volunteers, dogs, and five sonar-equipped boats helped with the search.
In addition, Seneca County Office of Emergency Management, Cornell University Police Department, Cayuga and Tompkins counties sheriffs offices, New York State Police Aviation Unit, Independent Search and Rescue Canine Handlers Association, the Cayuga County Highland Search and Rescue Unit, the Civil Air Patrol, East Hill Flying Club from Ithaca, state park police, Romulus Fire rescue and firefighters from Aurora, Seneca Falls, Union Springs and Border City also assisted in looking for the missing student.
"These volunteer searchers braved difficult weather and terrain conditions and walked the majority of the shorelines on Cayuga Lake searching for their friend and classmate," Stenberg said. "They saved us countless hours which enabled us to focus on the water search."
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Seneca County Sheriff's Office at 315-539-9241. Stenberg requested residents and Cayuga Lake users to report anything they find unusual.
