Three More Victims of 9/11 Identified After Nearly 24 Years

New York City officials announced on Thursday that they have identified three more victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, almost 24 years after the tragic event.

Ryan Fitzgerald and Barbara Keating were identified as adult women whose families prefer to remain private, according to officials. The Chief Medical Examiner’s office utilized advanced DNA testing and outreach to families in their efforts to confirm the identities. This marks the identification of Nos. 1,651, 1,652, and 1,653 since the attacks.

Fitzgerald, who was 26 at the time, worked as a foreign currency trader at Trustee International in the South Tower. After the initial crash into the North Tower, he managed to call his family, reassuring them that he was okay and preparing to leave his office. He had moved to Manhattan for the summer after earning his Bachelor’s degree in Las Vegas and had even treated himself to some new clothes and gifts for his girlfriend, as his mother recounted.

Keating, a 72-year-old grandmother, was on American Airlines Flight 11, which left Boston shortly before the attacks. Her family has often reflected on how much she cherished time with her grandchildren.

While Fitzgerald’s remains were recovered in 2002, Keating’s identification and that of another unidentified victim were associated with the site in 2011.

Mayor Eric Adams remarked on the enduring pain of losing loved ones in the September 11 attacks, stating that these identifications offer some comfort to families still grieving. As someone who served the city on that tragic day, he expressed empathy for those affected.

Officials noted that about 1,100 victims from the attacks, which accounts for roughly 40% of those who died, remain unidentified.

Dr. Jason Graham, the Chief Medical Examiner, affirmed the commitment to continue identifying 9/11 victims, highlighting the role of science and dedicated outreach to families over the years.