Advanced DNA genealogy helps identify second 9/11 victim after 25 years
A woman who died in the 2001 Twin Towers collapse has been identified using a new genetic genealogy method, the city medical examiner’s office said.
Investigators announced that a woman killed when the Twin Towers fell on September 11, 2001, has been identified via the cutting-edge IGG technology, which cross-references DNA with publicly available ancestry databases. The city medical examiner’s office, honoring the family’s wish for privacy, did not release her name. This is the second case where the NYPD’s specialized genetic genealogy squad has successfully applied the method, following a breakthrough identification in August.
Harsh conditions at Ground Zero have long hampered DNA recovery, but the office has now gathered 47 fresh samples suitable for genealogical analysis. The development offers renewed hope for the 1,098 victims still listed as unidentified after 25 years. Officials say the ongoing effort could bring closure to many remaining families.
Why it matters
It shows how new DNA tools can finally bring closure to families of 9/11 victims still unidentified.
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