Three More 9/11 Victims ID'd

NYC To Hire More Forensic Experts To Find Remains At Ground Zero

(AP)  New DNA testing has identified human remains recovered years ago from the World Trade Center wreckage to be those of a flight attendant and passenger from American Airlines Flight 11, the first hijacked plane to crash into a tower on Sept. 11, 2001.

Remains of a third victim also have been identified, but his family asked that his name not be released, the city's medical examiner's office announced Wednesday.

The newly identified remains had been held by the medical examiner's office for years, but even now, human bones are still being found at the site as construction begins at ground zero on the planned Freedom Tower.

New York City announced Wednesday that it plans to hire up to 10 more forensic anthropologists to join the effort to find and identify additional human remains, a project that could stretch well into next year, Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler said.

"We will make sure we have the appropriate resources to do this job," said Skyler, who is overseeing the recovery. "The mayor's orders were very clear: 'Do what needs to be done."'

Some victims' families say it still is not enough.

They planned to rally at the site Thursday afternoon to call for federal intervention and an expanded search for remains at the site. The families of about 40 percent of the more than 2,700 voters killed in the attack have yet to receive any remains identified by DNA.

"Hiring extra anthropologists is a recognition that they realize the job they have to do," said Charles Wolf, whose wife was killed on Sept. 11. "But doing the job and doing it right are two different matters. How are you going to manage this?"

The current search was prompted by the discovery last month of hundreds of pieces of human bone in an abandoned manhole near ground zero.

Some 200 pieces of bone and other remains have been found since the accidental discovery by utility workers doing routine work along the western edge of the lower Manhattan site.

Officials have said the manhole had been paved over and forgotten when a service road was built there in the midst of excavating the Twin Towers' rubble.

After the discovery, city officials identified about 10 more manholes and pockets under the road and ordered them to be excavated immediately and sifted for remains.

The work involves tearing up parts of side streets, exploring the rooftops of selected buildings near the 16-acre site and excavating more manholes beyond the dozen the city is already exploring.

The newly identified remains belong to flight attendant Karen Martin of Danvers, Mass.; Douglas Stone of Dover, N.H., and a man whose family asked that his name not be released, said Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner's office.

The identifications were made after the families submitted additional DNA samples to the medical examiner's lab, Borakove said. She declined to comment further on their cases. The medical examiner has occasionally requested additional DNA while trying to identify the remains of the 2,749 victims.

Since the bones were found last month, some families have pushed for the city to bring in the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, a military forensic unit that specializes in finding soldiers who went missing long ago.

[bluestardad]

Someone failed to call the Union "look in the man hole dude" and that area never got searched for remains. Well now they will be laid to rest.

[cc2010]

Even till today i am amazed!That morning a friend called me here in Vancouver Canada!She said they are attacking the states turn on TV.I turned it on and told her to fill her tube with water right away.Myself having family and being a Nam Era veteran of the Marines have strong feelings for my adopted Nation i am Canadian but the strike was at myself also.I am glad where i live that are airport could give haven to the many Americans who needed help then.I couldn't go down but there where plenty of folks taking blankets and stuff to help the stranded air travelers.I must say folks shouldn't talk badly of Canada in this we risked are life's also in fact more so then any Americans did because it was are airports the others planes landed in.Anyhow my oldest brother is a very high up official in the American Military and i know that they messed with the best and are and have paid plenty and should pay more too.

[cc2010]

Even till today i am amazed!That morning a friend called me here in Vancouver Canada!She said they are attacking the states turn on TV.I turned it on and told her to fill her tube with water right away.Myself having family and being a Nam Era veteran of the Marines have strong feelings for my adopted Nation i am Canadian but the strike was at myself also.I am glad where i live that are airport could give haven to the many Americans who needed help then.I couldn't go down but there where plenty of folks taking blankets and stuff to help the stranded air travelers.I must say folks shouldn't talk badly of Canada in this we risked are life's also in fact more so then any Americans did because it was are airports the others planes landed in.Anyhow my oldest brother is a very high up official in the American Military and i know that they messed with the best and are and have paid plenty and should pay more too.

[gramto7]

Are we going to start excavating for human remains from past wars? Enough is enough. Let's get on with our lives.
Posted by jdplat

Yes, jdplat, we are indeed still looking for MIAs from prior wars. In fact, the forensic teams are finding them frequently. Most notably, they recently found the site of the famed pilot from WWII "Buster" Crabb. I fully believe it IS worth looking for these people. What would you want if it were your family member missing?

[nanran3]

I find it appalling that anyone would encourage us to forget that day. Like the Holocaust, we need to remember. This is not the same as obsessing, but this issue needs resolution in order for those families to reconcile themselves to the reality of the tragedy.

[karen091866]

The 'search and recovery area' after 9-11-01 should have been, at the very LEAST, a 1-mile radius. Logic would lend to that being appropriate, given the nature of the disaster.
God Bless the families. They deserve SO much more than has been done for them to bring closure.

[jdplat]

Are we going to start excavating for human remains from past wars? Enough is enough. Let's get on with our lives.

[carrickonsuir]

My heart goes out to the many families who have lost loved ones in this tragedy. The real investigation needs to call for less propaganda (first paragraph) and a closer look at the multitude of inconsistencies that exist.

[emhawks]

My prayers will always go out to the families of the 911 victims.
Re-open the 911 investigation.

[mcdeane52]

Whatever it takes to bring closure and peace to the families still searching for thier loved ones. It's a small price to pay for the respect that every American deserves. And these people represent freedom, the determination of Americans and bravery beyond comprehension. Keep on keeping on!