37 - 9/11: 25 Years On with Forensic Pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd

In this special bonus episode, released to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, we're honoured to welcome one of the world's most respected forensic pathologists, Dr Richard Shepherd, who was on the ground in New York in the aftermath of the attacks. Over a career spanning more than four decades and more than 23,000 post-mortem examinations, Dr Shepherd has worked on many of the world's most significant investigations and major incidents. In this special episode, Dr Shepherd reflects on his experience of travelling to New York following the attacks of 11th September 2001 and working as part of the international forensic response. This isn't a discussion about the events of 9/11 themselves. Instead, it's an honest and thoughtful conversation about what happened afterwards — the enormous challenge of recovering and identifying victims, the realities of working in the aftermath of a disaster on an unprecedented scale, and the lasting impact such events have on the professionals involved. As former crime scene investigators and disaster response consultants, we also reflect on our own experiences of major incident response — making this a conversation between practitioners about a subject few people ever witness first-hand. Together, we discuss: Dr Shepherd's role following the attacks and his experiences in New York. The realities and challenges of disaster victim identification. The emotional impact of working on large-scale fatality incidents. The lessons learned from one of the most significant disaster responses in modern history. Why, 25 years later, the legacy of 9/11 continues to be felt by survivors, families and first responders. As we mark this significant anniversary, we remember everyone who lost their lives on 11th September 2001, together with their families, the first responders, recovery workers and all those whose lives were forever changed. Nearly 7,000 people have since died from illnesses linked to their time at Ground Zero — surpassing the number killed on the day itself. It's a reminder that the consequences of disasters like this continue long after the headlines have faded. 🎟️ If you'd like to hear more from Dr Shepherd, his live tour, Unnatural Causes – Time of Death, is coming this autumn. Find dates and tickets at: https://drrichardshepherd.com/ 🕊️ To learn more about the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, and to mark the 25th anniversary, visit: www.911memorial.org #TheCrimeSceneInsiders #UnderTheBarrierTape #911 #DrRichardShepherd #ForensicPathology #ForensicScience #NeverForget