For Families

Medical Examiner's Report

Reported Missing: 2,752
Remains Recovered: 21,814
Victims Identified: 1,627 ...59%
Remains Identified: 12,792 ...59%
Victims Not Identified: 1,122 ...41%
Remains Not Identified: 9,022 ...41%

Last Updated May 3, 2011
*Please note that these percentages reflect two new identifications, One of the identifications was made by retesting of remains from the Phase I Recovery and the second identification was from the Phase II Recovery.


Posted May 1, 2011

UPDATE ON THE RESULTS OF DNA TESTING OF REMAINS RECOVERED AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER SITE AND SURROUNDING AREA:
The Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) continues to work to identify as many victims of the 9/11 attacks as possible. New methodologies are being utilized for unidentified remains from the original
recovery (Phase I) and for remains recovered during Phases II and III of the ongoing WTC Potential
Human Remains Recovery Project.* Since January 2006, a total of 6314 bone samples have been selected for DNA re-testing (Phase I) and 1843 additional specimens have been recovered as part of Phases II and III. This results in a total of 8157 samples that require DNA testing (Table 1). As of this report, 1722 remains have been linked by DNA to known individuals and 6435 remains are in various stages of testing (Table 1). Table 2 presents a summary of victim identifications since January 2006. There have been 25 new victim identifications and 27 previously unseen profiles for which there are no matching references. These values represent identifications from any modality.

Table 1. DNA Testing Summary from 1 January 2006 - 1 May 2011

  Phase I Phase II Phase III Total
Testing Completed 955 767 0 1722
Samples in Process 5359 1006 70 6435
Total 6314 1773 70 8157

Table 2. Identification Summary:
**Phase II began in January 2006 and ended in December 2007. Phase III began in January 2008 with sifting operations ending in June 2010.

New Victim ID's since 2006 13 12 0 25
New DNA profiles without matching references since 2006 21 6 0 27

Last Updated May 1, 2011

Medical Examiner Notice:

As of April 1, 2009, the NYC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has been able to make a new identification:

Manuel Emilio Mejia, Age 54, Male Hispanic.
The identification was made by retesting of reference samples.

The number of WTC identifications is now 1624.

FROM THE MEDICAL EXAMINERS' OFFICE

31 October 2009

Dear Families,
An unfortunate incident occurred this morning at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), details of which we wish to share with you.

At approximately 8AM this morning, a break-in was discovered in the memorial chapel housed behind OCME. This chapel served as a quiet sanctuary where families could spend time near the remains of their loved ones and leave notes, photos, mementos, etc. behind.

While the incident is still under investigation and details are sparse, what we do know is after the break-in, mementos were gathered and a fire was started in the chapel. We are unclear as to whether or not the mementos were stolen or burnt but little remains inside the chapel. Aside from smoke damage, the chapel itself remains largely intact.

Please rest assured that we are doing our best to understand why this senseless crime occurred and who was behind it. Out of respect for the families however, we want to share what information we do have directly before it is reported by the press. Included below is the Mayor's statement on this incident.
Another update will be sent when more details emerge.

Sincerely,
Nazli Parvizi
Christy Ferer
Commissioner
9/11 Liaison
Mayor's Community Affairs Unit
Office of the Mayor

Identification Process
Ben Figura, NYC OCME

Several family members have inquired about progressing the identification process. As of April 2009, 1,624 of the 2,752 victims of the World Trade Center disaster have been identified. These identifications were made through traditional DNA methods and new technologies such as Mitochondrial DNA and SNPs. These new technologies are allowing the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) to identify remains that could not have been identified in the past with traditional technologies.

However, the OCME has exhausted these technologies. When the OCME paused in the identification effort due to limits in technology, all families should have been contacted by the OCME.

If you would like more information about the identification process or new DNA technologies, please call the OCME's World Trade Center hotline at (212) 447-7884.

Please visit our News section to see how to request information on the property and jewlery found at the World Trade Center site.

Medical Examiner Notice:

As of July 10, 2008, the NYC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has announced that Sneha Anne Philip has been added to the list of people who died as a result of the collapse of the World Trade Center Towers.

Cause of Death: Blunt Trauma
(Body not found; by order of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, 2221, Index 3542/03)

Manner of Death: Homicide

The number of World Trade Center victims is now 2751 (07/10/08).

Here is a February 2003 article detailing the DNA Identification Process for victims of the attack of the World Trade Center.