It has been over twenty years. You’d think the work at the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) would have slowed down or shifted focus by now. But it hasn't. The process of identifying 9 11 remains found at Ground Zero is an ongoing, grueling, and deeply emotional scientific mission that honestly defies the normal timeline of forensic science. Just recently, more families received the phone call they’ve been waiting for since 2001.
Two more victims—a man and a woman whose names were withheld at the request of their families—were identified just before the 22nd anniversary. This brings the number of identified victims to 1,649. But there is a sobering reality here. About 40% of those who died in the attacks remain unidentified. That is over 1,000 people whose families still have no physical closure. It’s a heavy number.
The grueling reality of the identification process
People often ask why this takes so long. If we have the DNA, why can’t we just run it through a computer and be done? It isn't that simple. Not even close. The conditions at the World Trade Center site were catastrophic. We aren't just talking about a building collapse; we are talking about high-intensity fires, jet fuel, crushed concrete, and the presence of bacteria and moisture over months of recovery.
Basically, the DNA in these fragments is severely degraded.
The OCME is currently using something called Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). This is a massive leap from the technology available in the early 2000s. Back then, if a bone fragment was too small or too charred, the DNA was essentially "silent." Now, scientists can pick through the wreckage of a genetic code to find tiny markers that were previously invisible. It’s like trying to read a book that has been soaked in water and then burned, but suddenly getting a pair of glasses that lets you see the faint indentations of the letters on the page.
How the DNA is actually tested
The lab doesn't just "find" a body. They find fragments. In many cases, these are tiny shards of bone, no bigger than a coin. The process involves:
- Grinding the bone into a fine powder.
- Using chemicals to extract whatever trace of DNA remains.
- Comparing that profile against a massive database of "reference samples" provided by victims' families—think toothbrushes, hairbrushes, or direct cheek swabs from survivors.
Dr. Jason Graham, the Chief Medical Examiner, has been vocal about the fact that they are "solemnly pledged" to continue this work. They haven't stopped. They don't plan to.
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Why the discovery of new remains matters now
You might wonder if it even matters after 24 years. For the families, the answer is a resounding yes. To most of the world, 9/11 is a historical event. For the families of the 1,103 victims who haven't been identified, it’s a lingering, open wound.
Finding 9 11 remains found in the archives or through re-testing provides a burial. It provides a name. It moves a loved one from the category of "missing" to "accounted for." It’s about dignity.
There is also the sheer volume of material. The recovery effort at Ground Zero resulted in over 21,900 human remains. Most of these have been tested multiple times. As technology improves, the lab goes back to the "unidentified" pile and tries again. It’s a cycle of constant re-evaluation. Sometimes, a fragment that failed to yield a profile in 2005 or 2012 finally speaks in 2025 or 2026 because the sensitivity of our tools has caught up to the complexity of the sample.
The role of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum
When remains are identified, they aren't just handed over in a box. There is a protocol. The families are notified first. Some choose to keep the information private. Others want the world to know. Any remains that cannot be identified are housed in a sacred repository located at the World Trade Center site, 70 feet underground. It is managed by the OCME, not the museum, ensuring that these are treated as active forensic cases and not museum exhibits.
It’s a strange, quiet place. It’s a tomb and a laboratory at the same time.
Misconceptions about the recovery
A lot of people think all the remains were found in 2001 and 2002. That’s wrong. In 2006, more than 300 bone fragments were discovered in a manhole near the site when utility workers were clearing out debris. In 2010, even more were found during the construction of the new towers. The "site" expanded as dust and debris settled on surrounding buildings like the Deutsche Bank Building, which had to be meticulously cleaned and eventually dismantled.
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Every time a new construction project starts near Lower Manhattan, there is a lingering thought: Will they find someone?
It’s also important to realize that the "remains" aren't always whole bodies. In fact, they rarely are. Most identifications come from fragments that were scattered during the collapse. This is why the DNA work is so vital; it’s the only way to piece back together a person’s story from the literal dust of the disaster.
The science of Next-Gen Sequencing
Let's get into the weeds for a second. Standard DNA testing—the kind you see on crime shows—often uses STR (Short Tandem Repeat) analysis. This works great if you have a fresh sample. But with 9 11 remains found in such poor condition, the DNA is often broken into tiny pieces.
Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) allows scientists to sequence millions of small fragments of DNA simultaneously. It’s like putting together a 5,000-piece puzzle by looking at all the pieces at once instead of trying to fit them one by one. This technology is also used in cancer research and mapping the human genome, but its application in NYC is perhaps its most poignant use case.
The scientists at the OCME are world leaders in this. They’ve had to invent new protocols because nobody had ever dealt with a forensic challenge of this scale. They are basically writing the textbook on disaster victim identification (DVI) as they go.
What families should know
If you are a family member of someone who was lost and hasn't been identified, the door isn't closed. The OCME still accepts reference samples if new technology makes it possible to get a better match from a distant relative.
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- Patience is mandatory. The lab moves at the speed of science, not the speed of news.
- Technology is evolving. What was impossible five years ago is routine today.
- Privacy is respected. You have the right to keep your loved one's identification out of the headlines.
The reality is that some victims may never be identified. The heat of the fires was so intense that some biological material was completely vaporized or chemically altered beyond recognition. It's a hard truth to swallow. But the fact that identifications are still happening in the mid-2020s proves that the "cold case" isn't actually cold. It’s white-hot with effort.
What to do next
If you want to support the ongoing efforts or learn more about the status of the recovery, there are specific steps you can take.
First, visit the official New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner website. They provide updates on their forensic biology department and occasionally release statistics on the identification project.
Second, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum offers extensive resources on the recovery process. They have oral histories from the recovery workers who spent months sifting through the "pile" at Fresh Kills Landfill and Ground Zero. Understanding the scale of that effort makes you realize why the lab work continues today.
Lastly, stay informed through credible news outlets. Avoid the "conspiracy" side of the internet. The science happening in New York is transparent, peer-reviewed, and conducted by some of the most dedicated forensic pathologists on the planet. They aren't hiding anything; they are just working through 21,900 pieces of a tragedy, one molecule at a time.
For those looking to help, consider donating to organizations that support 9/11 first responders and their families, such as the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation or the VOICES Center for Resilience. These groups deal with the long-term aftermath, including the health crises and the psychological toll that the lack of identification takes on families.
The search for the remaining victims is a testament to the idea that no one is forgotten. Even twenty-five years later, the mission to bring every name back to its family remains the highest priority for the city of New York. It’s a long road. But they are still walking it.