New York City authorities identifies an additional trio of individuals from the 9/11 tragedy, after a quarter-century has passed.
In a significant development, three more victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks have been identified, bringing the total number of identified victims to 1,653. This announcement was made by the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) in August 2025 [1][2].
The identifications were confirmed using DNA testing of remains gathered in 2001 and 2002. Among the identified victims were Barbara Keating of Palm Springs, Calif., and Ryan Fitzgerald of Floral Park, N.Y. [1]
Barbara Keating's remains were identified after discoveries of some of her possessions in the rubble and wreckage left by the September 11, 2001, terror attack. The DNA match was confirmed publicly by the office of NYC's chief medical examiner on Thursday [1].
Ryan Fitzgerald, age 26, was a trader working for a firm in the World Trade Center. The pain of losing a loved one in the September 11th terror attacks echoes across the decades, according to Paul Keating, Barbara's son. He mentioned that the aftermath of his mother's loss affected his sons deeply, as they were almost seven and four at the time [1].
The OCME's commitment remains strong to continue identifying remaining victims, honoring them, and providing closure to families even more than two decades after the attacks [1][2]. NYC Mayor Eric Adams, a former police officer who was on duty on 9/11, said, "In addition to the three new identifications this year, we take a step forward in comforting the family members still aching from that day." [1]
It is worth noting that approximately 1,100 victims—around 40%—remain unidentified. The OCME has identified 22 human remains associated with previously identified individuals in addition to the three new identifications this year [1].
The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were carried out by conspirators from the terrorist group al-Qaida. They seized control of civilian passenger jets and used them to strike the World Trade Center's twin towers in Manhattan and the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. A fourth plane crashed near Shanksville, Penn. [1]
The identifications of Fitzgerald, Keating, and the unnamed woman are testament to the promise of science and sustained outreach to families despite the passage of time. Dr. Jason Graham, NYC's chief medical examiner, said, "We continue this work as our way of honoring the lost." [1]
The identifications serve as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to provide closure to families and honor the memories of those lost on that fateful day.
References: [1] Associated Press. (2025, August). Three more victims of 9/11 attacks identified in New York City. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/01/us/september-11-victims-identified-new-york-city/index.html [2] New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. (n.d.). September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. Retrieved from https://www1.nyc.gov/site/ocme/victim-compensation-fund/september-11th-victim-compensation-fund.page
- Science played a crucial role in the identification of three more victims of the September 11 attacks, with DNA testing confirming the identities of Barbara Keating and Ryan Fitzgerald.
- The ongoing efforts in politics, specifically the work of NYC Mayor Eric Adams and the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, continue to focus on identifying the remaining victims of the September 11 attacks to provide closure to their families.
- The identifications serve as a reminder in general news, crime-and-justice, and sports discussions of the ongoing impact of war-and-conflicts, as the September 11, 2001, terror attacks are events that still echo in the hearts of the affected families and resonate in the wider society.
