Uncovered after 24 years: 3 additional 9/11 victims confirmed by NYC authorities
In a significant development, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in New York City has announced the identification of three more victims from the September 11 attacks. This brings the total number of identified victims to 1,653, representing over half of the 2,753 people who lost their lives at the World Trade Center that fateful day in 2001.
The latest identifications include Barbara Keating, a 72-year-old woman from Palm Springs, Calif., who was returning home from visiting family in Massachusetts. Also identified were Ryan Fitzgerald, a 26-year-old trader from Floral Park, N.Y., and an unnamed adult woman.
The identification process involved DNA testing of remains gathered in 2001 and 2002. The medical examiner's office in New York reached out to the families of the victims a few months ago about potential DNA matches.
Dr. Jason Graham, the city's chief medical examiner, expressed his gratitude for the continued cooperation of families and emphasised the city's commitment to identify the missing and return them to their loved ones. He stated, "Each new identification testifies to the promise of science and sustained outreach to families despite the passage of time, and we continue this work as our way of honoring the lost."
The identification of these victims comes after nearly 25 years since the attacks. Unfortunately, about 1,100 victims—approximately 40% of those who died—still remain unidentified. The medical examiner's office continues to work diligently to identify the remaining victims, utilising advanced DNA technology and renewed family engagement.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams, a former police officer who was on duty on 9/11, expressed his condolences to the families of the newly identified victims and stated that the three new identifications provide comfort to family members still aching from that day. He reiterated the city's commitment to ensuring that every victim is identified and that their families receive closure.
The identifications serve as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to honour the victims and provide closure to their families. The process remains complex given the state of the remains and the advances in forensic science and family cooperation that allow new identifications even after many years.
[1] Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, City of New York. (2025). September 11 Identifications Update. Retrieved from https://www.ocme.info/911-identifications-update
[2] National September 11 Memorial & Museum. (2021). Remembering the 9/11 Victims. Retrieved from https://911memorial.org/learn/articles/remembering-the-victims
- Science played a crucial role in the identification of three more victims from the September 11 attacks, as DNA testing of remains gathered in 2001 and 2002 was utilized to make these identifications.
- In the realm of general news, the identification of previously unidentified September 11 victims has shed new light on the ongoing efforts to honor the victims and provide closure to their families, despite the passage of time and the complexities involved in the process.
- The intertwining of politics and social issues is evident in the commitment demonstrated by New York City officials, including Mayor Eric Adams, to ensure that every victim of the September 11 attacks is identified, providing closure to their families and paying tribute to their memory.
