Former New York City death investigator Barbara Butcher is challenging the portrayal of victims falling from the World Trade Center on 9/11 as "jumpers." Butcher, who worked for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) during the attacks, asserts that these individuals were victims of homicide, pushed to their deaths by forces beyond their control.
During her tenure, Butcher was tasked with recovering and cataloging human remains from the rubble of the World Trade Center. She recounts a pivotal meeting months after the attacks where the Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Charles Hirsch, addressed the issue of terminology. When the term "jumpers" or "suicides" was mentioned in reference to those who fell from the towers, Dr. Hirsch expressed strong disapproval.
"Never use those words. Never," he stated, explaining that victims were forced out by flames and smoke, struggling for air and clinging to window frames. "Some lost their grip; some were forced to let go."
Butcher emphasizes the importance of precise language in determining the manner of death, adhering to strict protocols. Suicide is defined as "death at the hands of oneself with intent to die," while homicide is "death at the hands of another." According to Butcher, there was no evidence of suicide among the 2,753 victims at the World Trade Center. She maintains that every one of the estimated 200 people who fell from the windows was a victim of homicide, as indicated on their death certificates.
This distinction holds significant weight for families whose religious beliefs consider suicide an unforgivable sin. Butcher has encountered instances where family members disowned loved ones upon the mere possibility of intentional jumping. She notes that the National September 11 Museum displays signage referencing "those who jumped," a portrayal she actively seeks to change.
Butcher has engaged with museum curators and directors in an effort to alter the signage, but the museum's Signage Committee has declined, stating that others are not bothered by the current wording. Butcher, however, is deeply affected by the terminology, finding it angering and hurtful. She argues that labeling victims as "jumpers" fails to capture their anguish and lack of choice, ultimately blaming the victims rather than the terrorists responsible for their deaths. She advocates for phrases such as "those who fell from the windows" or "pushed out by forces beyond their control" to more accurately honor the victims.