9/11 Death Investigator: Stop Calling Them “Jumpers”

Overview

The discussion centers on Barbara Butcher, an experienced New York City death investigator, who challenges the way people talk about the 9/11 victims who fell or were seen coming out of the upper floors. Michael Smerconish introduces a New York Post essay by Butcher arguing that the common term “jumpers” is both misleading and insensitive.

Butcher’s Role After 9/11

Butcher describes her work at the NYC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in the months following 9/11, including:

• Supervising recovery efforts on the “pile” until December
• Leading efforts to examine even minute fragments and dust for possible identification

She also emphasizes the scale of the catastrophe:

• 2,753 deaths
• More than 22,000 individual remains
• Approximately 40% (about 1,100 people) still not identified
• She characterizes this as tragic and ongoing

The Argument About Language and Classification

A central point in the interview is Butcher’s critique of terminology and how it frames responsibility:

• She notes that every 9/11 death certificate classifies window-fall deaths as homicides, not suicides.
• She disputes claims that the victims “committed suicide.”

Her reasoning is that the victims were not acting with intent to die. Instead, she argues they were pushed out by the conditions—smoke, fire, and overwhelming forces—meaning “suicide” framing shifts blame toward victims and away from terrorists.

Butcher also argues that calling them “jumpers” is dehumanizing and emotionally harmful, because it carries “suicide” stigma.

Impact on Public Memory

Smerconish and Butcher discuss how language affects collective remembrance:

• Butcher points to the National September 11 Memorial Museum, which includes a restricted/sensitive room with imagery of victims coming down from windows.

• She cites signage/audio that uses “people jumping” language and includes an interviewee stating:

  “the jumpers … committed suicide.”

• Her complaint is not only about factual precision, but about insensitivity—even though she acknowledges some people use “jumpers” to imply a last moment of agency.

Downstream Effects for Families

Butcher connects terminology to real-world consequences, including:

• Religious interpretations that treat suicide as sinful
• Insurance implications
• How these factors can shape families’ grief and beliefs about what happened

She recounts a case where tentative identification relied on the “falling man” photograph, and family members reacted with distress because, under a suicide classification, their religious framework would label the person a “coward/sinner.”

Closing Points

In closing commentary:

• Smerconish admits he has used “jumper” language himself—sometimes unintentionally or as shorthand—and says he will stop.
• The program’s takeaway is that people who fell from the windows were victims pushed out by conditions beyond their control, so the proper framing should be homicide, not suicide.

Presenters/Contributors

• Michael Smerconish (host/presenter)
• Barbara Butcher (guest; death investigator, author)
• Dr. Charles Hirsch (mentioned; NYC Chief Medical Examiner)
• TC (commentator at end; likely another contributor/host)