NEW YORK (1010 WINS/ WCBS 880 NEWS) – Mayor Eric Adams and the city's chief medical examiner announced on Thursday the identification of the 1,650th victim of 9/11.
John Ballantine, a resident of Oyster Bay, was identified using advanced DNA analysis of remains recovered from the Lower Manhattan site where thousands of people lost their lives.
“Our solemn promise to find answers for families using the latest advances in science stands as strong today as in the immediate days after the World Trade Center attacks,” said Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jason Graham. “This new identification attests to our agency’s unwavering commitment and the determination of our scientists.”
The 2001 terrorist attacks killed 2,977 people and resulted in nearly 5,000 additional deaths from 9/11-related illnesses.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) continues to identify victims as new scientific methods develop, according to the statement.
The latest identifications have been made using next-generation sequencing technology, which is more sensitive and faster than traditional DNA methods. This technology is also used by the U.S. military to identify missing servicemembers.
OCME made two new identifications of victims in September 2023 but withheld their names at the request of their families.
More than 1,000 victims remain unidentified.
“While the pain from the enormous losses on September 11th never leaves us, the possibility of new identifications can offer solace to the families of victims,” Adams said. “I'm grateful for the ongoing work from the Office of Chief Medical Examiner that honors the memory of John Ballantine Niven and all those we lost.”