Nearly a quarter-century after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, three more victims have been positively identified through advanced DNA analysis, offering long-awaited closure to their families.
The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) announced on Thursday, August 7, that the newly identified victims are Ryan Fitzgerald, of Floral Park, New York, Barbara Keating, of Palm Springs, California, and an adult woman whose family requested her name remain private. These are the 1,651st, 1,652nd, and 1,653rd confirmed identities among the 2,976 people killed in the attacks.
Fitzgerald, 26, had just started working at the foreign currency exchange desk at Fiduciary Trust in the South Tower and was living on his own in Manhattan for the first time. Keating, 72, a grandmother, was aboard American Airlines Flight 11, which struck the North Tower. The third victim’s details have been withheld to honor her family’s wishes.
According to officials, Fitzgerald’s remains were recovered in 2002, while Keating’s and the unnamed woman’s remains were recovered in 2001. Each identification was made possible by continued family outreach and breakthroughs in forensic DNA testing — part of an ongoing effort to identify the approximately 1,100 victims who remain unidentified.
“The pain of losing a loved one in the September 11th terror attacks echoes across the decades,” said New York Mayor Eric Adams. “With these three new identifications, we take a step forward in comforting the family members still aching from that day.”
Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jason Graham reaffirmed the city’s commitment: “Nearly 25 years after the disaster at the World Trade Center, our promise to identify the missing and return them to their loved ones stands as strong as ever. Each new identification testifies to the power of science and the dedication to honoring the lost.”
Since the attacks, the OCME has conducted the largest and most complex forensic investigation in U.S. history, with the identification process continuing to this day.
Satire Alert: This article contains factual, verified reporting from official sources. There is no satire in this story. The identifications and quotes are genuine and based on public records and statements from NYC officials.
