Almost a quarter-century after the tragic September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, advanced DNA technology has made it possible to identify three more victims, providing some measure of peace to their grieving families.
On Thursday, August 7, the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) announced the identities of Ryan Fitzgerald of Floral Park, New York; Barbara Keating of Palm Springs, California; and an adult woman whose family has chosen to keep her name private. These identifications mark the 1,651st, 1,652nd, and 1,653rd confirmed victims among the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day.
Ryan Fitzgerald, just 26, was beginning a promising career at the foreign currency exchange desk of Fiduciary Trust in the South Tower and living independently in Manhattan for the first time. Barbara Keating, 72, a devoted grandmother, was aboard American Airlines Flight 11, which struck the North Tower. The third victim’s identity remains confidential out of respect for her family’s wishes.
While Fitzgerald’s remains were recovered in 2002, Keating’s and the unnamed woman’s remains were found in 2001. Their identification was made possible through relentless family collaboration and groundbreaking advancements in forensic DNA testing—part of an ongoing mission to identify the approximately 1,100 victims who remain unnamed.
“The pain of losing a loved one in the September 11th terror attacks echoes across decades,” said New York Mayor Eric Adams. “With these three new identifications, we take a meaningful step toward comforting families still enduring that loss.”
Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jason Graham reaffirmed the city’s dedication: “Nearly 25 years after the World Trade Center tragedy, our commitment to bringing closure to families remains unwavering. Every new identification highlights the incredible power of science and our pledge to honor those we lost.”
Since the attacks, the OCME has led the most extensive and complex forensic investigation in U.S. history—a solemn, ongoing effort to ensure no victim is forgotten.