Almost a quarter-century after the Sept. 11 attacks, one family has received long-awaited answers after New York City investigators used a groundbreaking DNA and genealogy method to identify a woman who died at the World Trade Center.
The woman, an adult whose name is not being released at her family’s request, is the first World Trade Center victim to be identified through forensic investigative genetic genealogy, New York City officials said Sunday.
The identification brings the total number of victims identified from remains recovered after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to 1,654. The attacks killed 2,753 people in New York City.
Family members of 9/11 victims and others paid tribute to loved ones on the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City in 2023. (Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images, File)
The breakthrough was the result of a joint effort between the Office of Chief Medical Examiner and the NYPD’s Investigative Genetic Genealogy Squad. The approach combines advanced DNA analysis with genealogy research to develop investigative leads, which are then verified through traditional forensic testing.
“As we approach the 25th anniversary of the horrific September 11 attacks, we honor the nearly 3,000 people whose lives were stolen that day,” NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a statement. “We remain committed to the families who have spent 25 years waiting for answers.”
The identification was made through collaboration between the NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner and the NYPD’s Investigative Genetic Genealogy Squad, using specialized DNA analysis alongside genealogy research. (Michael Wyke/Houston Chronicle, File)
Forensic investigative genetic genealogy has become an increasingly important tool in cold case investigations, helping authorities map family connections from DNA evidence and identify people who might otherwise have remained nameless.
Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Graham said the new method could help advance the city’s long-running effort to identify those killed in the attacks.
A young boy and his mother look down into the South Pool during 9/11 observances on Sept. 11, 2018, in New York City. ( Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images, File)
“This sacred commitment is propelled by our dedication to apply the most innovative scientific techniques,” Graham said. “FIGG represents a promising new addition to our toolkit.”
Officials said they are also using renewed family outreach and continued DNA retesting to link recovered remains to victims already identified.
But the work remains unfinished. About 1,099 World Trade Center victims, roughly 40% of those killed, have yet to be identified.
The woman is the first newly identified World Trade Center victim since August 2025, officials said.
