On Wednesday, New York City officials revealed that investigators have successfully identified a second victim from the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, utilizing advanced investigative genetic genealogy techniques.
This victim, a woman who lost her life when the Twin Towers fell on September 11, 2001, has chosen to remain unnamed at her family’s request, according to the city medical examiner’s office.
This identification represents the second instance where the medical examiner’s office has managed to identify a World Trade Center victim using this emerging technology, following a similar success in August.
The method, referred to as investigative genetic genealogy, works by comparing a victim’s genetic data with publicly accessible ancestry databases. Interestingly, this technique was previously employed to apprehend Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann.
The New York Police Department carries out this research through its genetic genealogy squad, which diligently analyzes the data to trace family histories.
Lt. Maria Powers, who leads this specialized squad, shared that the process can be quite rigorous, often requiring them to delve into family histories that extend back hundreds of years.
Once the NYPD feels confident about a potential identification, they inform the medical examiner’s office, which then reaches out to the families affected.
Jennifer Odien, who serves as a liaison between families and the medical examiner’s office, pointed out that initial identifications are usually made by local police officers.
She noted, “Once they identify someone, families are usually instructed to contact our office.”
It’s common for families to be taken aback upon receiving news of their loved one’s identification, often expressing a desire to learn more about the process.
Odien remarked that many families are surprised to hear their loved one has been identified and they are curious about how the identification came to be.
The challenging conditions at Ground Zero, where 2,753 individuals perished during the terror attacks and 1,098 victims remain without identification, have made retrieving usable DNA particularly tough.
Nevertheless, the medical examiner’s office has gathered 47 new genetic samples that are suitable for genealogical analysis, offering renewed hope to families searching for closure even after 25 years, as mentioned by Mark Desire, assistant director for forensic biology at the office.
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney described the recent findings as “great” and emphasized that this is a technology we ought to embrace, according to reports.
This advanced technology was also instrumental in 2025 during the collection of DNA evidence against Heuermann, aiding in the identification of victims such as Karen Vergata, previously known as “Fire Island Jane Doe.”
The judge overseeing Heuermann’s trial, Timothy Mazzei, appreciated the technology’s capabilities and vastly broadened its application in the examination of the serial killer’s case.
“Had I not been confident about this case, I would never have brought it to trial,” Tierney stated regarding his stance on utilizing the technology during that period.
