9/11 victim identification via genetic genealogy

New York City authorities continue to identify victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks using forensic advancements. Recent identifications include Ryan Fitzgerald, a 26-year-old currency trader who had been missing since the morning of the attacks, and Barbara Keating from California.

In a significant development, an unidentified woman was identified as the 1,654th victim through forensic genetic genealogy. This method, which integrates DNA analysis with genealogical research, represents a “breakthrough” and a “great advancement” in the ongoing efforts to identify victims of the World Trade Center attacks. This identification was a collaborative effort between the NYPD Detective Bureau and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Nearly 25 years after the attacks, approximately 1,100 of the 2,753 people who died in New York—nearly 40 percent—remain unidentified. Identification efforts have been historically difficult because the extreme damage from plane crashes and jet fuel fires often left only small bone fragments for DNA sampling.

Despite these challenges, officials state there is “real promise” in using forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) to provide closure to the remaining families. Forensic experts have noted that approximately 47 DNA profiles are currently being reviewed for potential identification through this method.