Our correspondent
New York
On August 7, 2025, the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) announced the identification of three additional victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, bringing the total number of identified victims to 1,653 out of the 2,753 killed in New York City. Using advanced DNA analysis techniques and ongoing outreach to families, the OCME identified Ryan Fitzgerald of Floral Park, New York, Barbara Keating of Palm Springs, California, and an adult woman whose name is being withheld at her family’s request.
A Decades-Long Commitment
The identifications, confirmed through DNA testing of remains recovered in 2001 and 2002, mark a significant milestone in the OCME’s relentless mission to provide closure to families. “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,” said Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jason Graham. “Each new identification testifies to the promise of science and sustained outreach to families despite the passage of time.”
The process is among the most complex forensic DNA identification efforts in history, given the extensive fragmentation of remains caused by the attacks’ violence, compounded by exposure to jet fuel, fire, and environmental degradation. Despite these challenges, the OCME has identified 1,653 victims, though approximately 1,100—roughly 40%—remain unidentified.
The Victims
- Ryan Fitzgerald, 26, was a foreign currency trader at Fiduciary Trust Company International, working in the World Trade Center. A Floral Park native, he had recently moved to Manhattan to start a new chapter of his life. His remains were identified from fragments recovered in 2002. His obituary described him as a vibrant “man on the town” who enjoyed a memorable summer before his death, including attending a friend’s bachelor party.
- Barbara Keating, 72, was aboard American Airlines Flight 11, which crashed into the North Tower. A Palm Springs resident, she was returning from a summer visit to Cape Cod, where she had lived before moving to California after her husband’s death. Keating, who survived breast cancer twice, dedicated 25 years to public service, including a decade as executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters near Boston. Her remains were identified from fragments recovered in 2001, following earlier discoveries of her ATM card and hairbrush in the rubble.
- The third victim, an adult woman, was identified through remains recovered in the same period, but her identity remains private at her family’s request.
Remains of 3 more 9/11 victims ID’d using new DNA tech: officials https://t.co/kmlHFBfL3r pic.twitter.com/sxB9zy3Of6
— New York Post (@nypost) August 7, 2025
A Family’s Closure
For Paul Keating, Barbara’s son, the identification brought bittersweet relief. “We’re talking about people putting in overtime 24 years later, for us,” he told The New York Times, marveling at the OCME’s dedication. The process began years ago when forensic scientists contacted his family about a possible match involving a hairbrush believed to belong to his mother. His siblings provided DNA samples, leading to the positive identification. Paul reflected on the profound impact of 9/11 on his family, particularly his young sons, who were four and nearly seven when their grandmother was killed by “bad guys.”
A Historic Forensic Effort
The OCME’s work, initiated under Dr. Charles Hirsch in 2001, has relied on preserving over 22,000 human remains for future DNA advancements. Mark Desire, assistant director of forensic biology and a member of the original 9/11 team, emphasized the challenges posed by degraded DNA. “These remains went through every possible thing that could destroy DNA,” he told CBS News, citing exposure to jet fuel, mold, and heat. Yet, the team’s adoption of cutting-edge sequencing technology, also used by the U.S. military, has enabled new identifications.
Mayor Eric Adams, a former police officer on duty during 9/11, underscored the emotional weight of the milestone. “The pain of losing a loved one in the September 11th terror attacks echoes across the decades, but with these three new identifications, we take a step forward in comforting the family members still aching from that day,” he said.
Looking Ahead
The OCME’s work continues, with 22 additional remains linked to previously identified victims in 2025 alone. While the pace of new identifications has slowed since the early 2000s, when hundreds were confirmed annually, the office remains steadfast. “As long as there are families who are continuing to seek answers, this work will continue,” Dr. Graham affirmed. The repository at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, accessible only to families, holds the unidentified remains, a solemn reminder of the ongoing quest for closure.
The identification of Fitzgerald, Keating, and the unnamed woman reaffirms the power of science and perseverance, honoring the memory of those lost in one of America’s darkest days.
