9/11 victim identified using first-of-its-kind genetic genealogy technique

A 9-11 victim has just been identified nearly 25 years after the attacks. The discovery is a first of its kind. The Medical Examiner’s Office and the NYPD identified the victim using genetic genealogy, combining DNA testing with family trees. ABC News’ Aaron Katursky went into the lab where scientists have continued this painstaking work for more than two decades. To know that the office not only is keeping its promise, but the work is yielding fruit, has to be enormously satisfying. It’s deeply meaningful. And being able to provide answers, even despite the passage of nearly 25 years now, to family members who lost someone as a homicide victim on 9-11 is deeply meaningful. And the families are uniformly grateful.

Roughly 1,100 people have still not been formally identified, but the medical examiner’s office will never stop trying.