Investigators have identified a second victim of the September 11 terror attacks using forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG). More than 25 years after the attacks, this woman died in one of the World Trade Center towers in 2001. The identification marks another success for the innovative technique that blends advanced DNA analysis with genealogical research.
Julie Bolcer, deputy commissioner of Public Affairs & Communications for the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner, confirmed that this is the second identification made through FIGG since August. In both recent cases, the woman’s name and hometown have been withheld at the family’s request.
FIGG enables investigators to develop identification leads by analyzing DNA and tracing family histories. These leads are then verified through further DNA testing and various forensic methods.
The latest identification brings the total number of victims confirmed from the 2001 attacks to 1,655. However, roughly 40% of those killed at the World Trade Center, or 1,098 victims, remain unidentified.
