NEW YORK (AP) — Recent advancements in DNA technology have led to the identification of three more victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, as officials continue their long-standing efforts to provide closure to the families of the deceased. This week, New York City officials announced the successful identification of remains belonging to Ryan D. Fitzgerald, a 26-year-old currency trader; Barbara A. Keating, a 72-year-old retired nonprofit executive; and an unnamed woman, whose identity has been withheld at the request of her family.
These three individuals were already known to have died in the al-Qaida hijacked plane attacks, and their names are engraved on the National September 11 Memorial in New York City. However, until now, their families were unaware of any identified remains associated with them. The tragic events of 9/11 resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people, with more than 2,700 victims succumbing to the catastrophic collapse of the Twin Towers. Unfortunately, about 40% of these victims have still not had any remains identified.
The New identifications were made possible through improved DNA testing methods, which have successfully analyzed minute fragments of remains found in the wreckage of the Trade Center over two decades ago. Dr. Jason Graham, the city's chief medical examiner, emphasized the significance of these advancements, stating that "each new identification testifies to the promise of science and sustained outreach to families despite the passage of time." He reaffirmed the commitment to continuing this work as a tribute to those lost in the tragedy.
Paul Keating, the son of Barbara Keating, expressed his astonishment and gratitude towards the relentless efforts behind these identifications. He highlighted that DNA from a portion of his mother's hairbrush was crucial in matching her genetic material with that of her relatives. Aside from that, the only other personal item retrieved from the debris was a fragment of her ATM card. Barbara Keating was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 11, which was en route from Boston to Los Angeles when it was hijacked and crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. She was returning home to Palm Springs, California, after spending time on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Throughout her career, Keating dedicated herself to social services, including a significant stint as the executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Middlesex, a nonprofit organization near Boston. In her retirement, she was actively involved in her Roman Catholic church in Palm Springs.
Ryan Fitzgerald lived in Manhattan and worked for a financial firm located within the Trade Center. At the time of his death, he was pursuing a master's degree in business and exploring a long-term future with his girlfriend. Over the years, the New York medical examiner's office has continually added to the list of identified 9/11 victims and has employed various techniques to retest tens of thousands of fragments, making use of advancements in forensic science even as the challenges of fire, sunlight, and bacteria posed difficulties in retrieving usable DNA.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed hope that those families receiving news of identified remains could find solace in the ongoing commitment of the city to this crucial mission. The awareness of municipal efforts in identifying victims has offered a ray of hope to families still seeking closure as the city remembers the tragic events of September 11.
