For nearly 24 years, fragments of evidence remained in storage, quietly awaiting advances in technology.
Many questioned the lengthy wait—whether it was simply due to scientific limitations or if other, less-discussed factors contributed to the delay. Then, unexpectedly, the announcement arrived: three additional victims of the September 11 attacks had been identified.
The news brought both relief and quiet reflection, as officials disclosed the names of two, while one remained deliberately private, leaving lingering questions about what else from that day may still be unknown.
Nearly twenty-four years after the September 11, 2001 attacks, three more victims have been identified through cutting-edge DNA testing, offering long-sought answers for grieving families.
On Thursday, August 7, the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) confirmed the identities: Ryan Fitzgerald of Floral Park, New York; Barbara Keating of Palm Springs, California; and an adult woman whose family requested her name remain confidential. These identifications bring the total confirmed victims to 1,651, 1,652, and 1,653 out of the 2,976 lives lost that day.
Ryan Fitzgerald, 26, had recently started working at the foreign currency exchange desk at Fiduciary Trust in the South Tower and was living alone in Manhattan for the first time. Barbara Keating, 72, a grandmother, was aboard American Airlines Flight 11, which crashed into the North Tower. The third victim’s identity remains undisclosed in accordance with her family’s wishes.
Officials reported that Fitzgerald’s remains were recovered in 2002, while those of Keating and the unnamed woman were found in 2001. Their identification was made possible through years of persistent investigation and recent breakthroughs in forensic DNA technology. The OCME continues efforts to identify the roughly 1,100 victims who remain unnamed.
“The grief of losing a loved one in the September 11 attacks resonates across decades,” said New York Mayor Eric Adams. “These three identifications are a step forward in bringing comfort to families still seeking answers from that tragic day.”
Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jason Graham added, “Nearly 25 years after the World Trade Center disaster, our commitment to identifying the missing and reuniting them with their families remains unwavering. Every new identification demonstrates the power of science and our dedication to honoring those we lost.”
Since 2001, the OCME has led the largest and most intricate forensic investigation in U.S. history—an effort that continues today.
Conclusion
While these identifications account for only a small portion of the lives lost, they serve as a powerful reminder that the search for closure continues. For families finally receiving answers, the news brings a mix of relief and sorrow.
For those still waiting, it provides hope that time, dedication, and scientific advancements will eventually bring clarity. Nearly a quarter-century later, the commitment to identify every victim of September 11 endures—a solemn promise that those lost will never be forgotten.