Advanced DNA technology and tireless forensic efforts have enabled the identification of three more victims from the September 11 attacks, nearly 24 years after the tragedy.
The latest identifications bring the total number of victims confirmed by the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) to 1,653, out of the approximately 2,753 people who lost their lives at the World Trade Center. That leaves about 1,100 victims—or 40%—still officially unidentified.
The Human Stories
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Ryan Fitzgerald, 26, was a foreign currency trader living in Manhattan. His final act was a reassuring phone call to his family shortly after the first tower was struck.
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Barbara Keating, 72, was a retired nonprofit executive and grandmother. She happened to take an earlier flight home at the request of her daughter. Her identification was aided by a combination of forensic detective work and personal mementos—an ATM card fragment and part of her hairbrush—spanning decades.
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The third recognized victim remains unnamed, as requested by her grieving family.
The Role of Science and Family Outreach
Dr. Jason Graham, New York City’s chief medical examiner, emphasized the continued dedication to identifying the missing:
“Nearly 25 years after the disaster at the World Trade Center, our commitment to identify the missing and return them to their loved ones stands as strong as ever.”
The advances in DNA extraction and analysis have been critical in matching remains recovered from the rubble (some as early as 2001 and 2002) to families who have contributed genetic samples.
Barbara Keating’s son, Paul, described the confirmation as a bittersweet moment—relief mixed with grief. “It brought everything back again from 24 years ago,” he told The Guardian.
Mayor Eric Adams acknowledged the emotional weight of the identifications and reaffirmed New York City’s unwavering mission:
“The pain of losing a loved one in the September 11 terror attacks echoes across the decades… with these three new identifications we take a step forward in comforting the family members still aching from that day.”
