Families still seek closure from 9/11 victims’ remains

For 25 years, Juliette Scauso has held onto her firefighter father’s helmet as the only physical trace of him after he died responding to the September 11th attacks in New York City.

Dennis Scauso was a member of the New York City Fire Department’s hazardous materials unit and switched shifts to earn overtime on September 11, 2001.

His remains have not been identified, and he is one of over 1,000 people who died in New York that day whose identities remain unknown. New York City recently identified its 1,654th victim using forensic genetic genealogy (FIGG), a new technology that analyzes complete genome sequencing to find distant family matches.

The city’s Department of Forensic Anthropology has been working to identify the 2,753 victims who died at the World Trade Center, but has only succeeded in identifying 60% of them. The process has been complicated by the damaged condition of remains caused by the plane crashes and resulting fires, and by some rescuers wearing others’ uniforms. The department continues to analyze recovered remains using evolving DNA technology, and has identified 1,495 victims since 9/11.

While some families welcome identification to gain closure, others, like Scauso, fear reopening old wounds. The unidentified remains are stored at the 9/11 Memorial site, and a reflection room provides a space for grieving families. Despite the challenges, forensic scientists vow to continue searching for answers as long as families seek them.