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Nearly 25 years after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, new genetic genealogy technology has successfully identified the remains of a victim from the World Trade Center site. This breakthrough was achieved by the New York City's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the NYPD Detective Bureau, marking the first time genetic genealogy has been used for this purpose.
The victim, an adult woman, has become the 1,651st individual to be formally identified from the nearly 3,000 people who perished in the attacks. Her family has chosen to remain anonymous. Dr. Jason Graham, New York City's chief medical examiner, described the development as a significant advancement, stating, "It's a breakthrough. I'm delighted to be able to say that we've now applied new methods to the World Trade Center identification efforts."
Genetic genealogy combines DNA testing with family tree research, a technique that has previously been used to solve cold cases. Although not applicable to all remains, officials are optimistic about its potential. Dr. Jennifer Odien, a forensic anthropologist, noted that there are 47 DNA profiles that might be suitable for identification using this method. This represents a small fraction of the nearly 1,100 World Trade Center victims who remain unidentified.
The application of this technology underscores the commitment to never cease efforts to identify all victims. As Dr. Graham emphasized, "The World Trade Center was the largest mass murder in the history of the United States, and it represents also the most complex forensic identification effort in our history."
For more details, visit the full report on ABC News.