{
  "id": 2915002,
  "title": "9/11 victim identified using first-of-its-kind genetic genealogy technique",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/9-11-victim-identified-using-first-of-its-kind-genetic-genealogy",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-24T01:51:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News (US)",
    "slug": "abc-news-us",
    "url": "https://abcnews.com/US/911-victim-identified-kind-genetic-genealogy-technique/story?id=135887895"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a groundbreaking development, a victim of the September 11, 2001 attacks has been identified using a pioneering genetic genealogy technique. This marks the first time in 25 years that New York City's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the NYPD Detective Bureau have successfully identified a 9/11 victim through this method. The unidentified female victim is now the 1,651st to be formally identified.\n\nDr. Jason Graham, the city's Chief Medical Examiner, expressed his delight at this milestone, stating that it represents a significant breakthrough in their ongoing efforts to identify the nearly 3,000 victims of the World Trade Center attacks. He emphasized that the application of new methods, specifically forensic investigative genetic genealogy, has enabled this identification for the first time in 25 years.\n\nForensic investigative genetic genealogy combines DNA testing with family tree research, a technique that was unimaginable 25 years ago due to the lack of available technology. NYPD Detective Gregory Paduano echoed this sentiment, noting that the methodology did not exist at the time of the attacks and that there is great potential for its future use in solving unidentified cold cases.\n\nThe medical examiner's office and the police department have already begun to explore the application of this technique to other World Trade Center victim identification efforts. Forensic anthropologist Dr. Jennifer Odien highlighted the promising prospects of this approach, particularly in cases where DNA profiles do not match their reference samples. Currently, there are 47 such profiles that could potentially be identified using genetic genealogy, representing a small fraction of the 1,100 unidentified victims of the 9/11 attacks.\n\nThe Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has committed to never stopping their efforts to identify these victims. Dr. Graham emphasized that the World Trade Center was the largest mass murder in U.S. history and the most complex forensic identification effort. He expressed optimism about using innovative methods to honor the families of the victims.",
  "summary": "An adult female was formally identified using the technique, the 1,651st victim to be formally identified.",
  "key_points": [
    "First 9/11 victim identified using genetic genealogy technique after 25 years.",
    "New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and NYPD Detective Bureau involved.",
    "Method combines DNA testing with family tree research for identification."
  ],
  "editors_take": "This identification marks a significant breakthrough in efforts to identify 9/11 victims, showcasing the potential of genetic genealogy to solve cold cases and bring closure to families.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}