NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner continuing to identify 9/11 victims decades later
Desire and his team at the office would help to identify 1,651 victims of 9/11 and continue to identify more. Desire says they made the choice to preserve remains in 2001, believing future science and technology would continue to be able to identify these remains.
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Just a few years after starting at the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, now Assistant Director Mark Desire would get the biggest case of his career on Sept. 11, 2001.
“Begin the identification process. So I had just got my orders, picked up our gearbox, and boom, South Tower cracked, and it was right over us. Just blocked out the sun. I had a concussion, punctures, lacerations. But then next morning, I was back at work on crutches and all back couldn't keep us away. We slept in the lab. We ate our meals here. We celebrated holidays in the lab working on this," said Desire.
Desire and his team at the office would help to identify 1,651 victims of 9/11, with an ID coming just last month. Desire says they made the choice to preserve remains in 2001, believing future science and technology would continue to be able to identify them.
“The fire, the water to put out the fire, the sunlight, the mold, the bacteria, jet fuel, diesel fuel, all of that destroys DNA, making this mission impossible to complete. But it's never stopped us," said Desire.
For forensic scientist Kevin McKenna, the science isn't abstract. His family is still waiting. His father was an NYPD officer who was supposed to be at work that day. But his partner never came home.
“Because he needed to watch me at home is the reason why he wasn't there. The reason why he lived. But my dad lost his partner in the towers, and he's still missing. He's not been identified yet. So, it makes it a very personal mission," said McKenna.
For the friends, siblings, and parents still waiting, Desire says the promises he's made to them haven't changed.
“I just tell you we're never going to give up. And she understood. And she said, well, can you promise that after I'm gone and you do find her, can you bury her with me? I want her by my side. Yes. You have my word that will happen," said Desire.
If you or someone you know is still waiting to identify a loved one from 9/11, you can head to the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner's website, or call their hotline at 212-447-7884.
