Families begin applying for death certificates for World Trade Center victims

By KATHERINE ROTH
Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK – Hundreds of people, some sobbing, filtered into a building on a Hudson River pier Wednesday, many to begin the heartbreaking process of applying for death certificates for loved ones still missing in the smoking ruins of the World Trade Center.

"I'm still hopeful that somehow my wonderful wife will be found alive, but for the sake of our children I have to somehow sort through this," said George Santiago, 37, of Brooklyn, his eyes brimming with tears.

More than 6,300 people are missing in the crumbled towers. Only about 300 people have been confirmed dead, and officials say it could take months to remove and identify the victims of the fiery disaster, and that some may never be found at all.

Typically, it can take three years to get a death certificate without a body, a waiting period used to prevent fraud. But the city is streamlining the process – and reducing the wait to a few days in most cases – so that victims' families can get death benefits and access to bank accounts.

On Wednesday, the first day of the speeded-up process, some relatives said they were not ready to say goodbye and only wanted to see what the process was. A police officer at the gate said some families got as far as the door, then became overcome with emotion and left.

Many of those in line clutched envelopes containing documents such as birth and marriage certificates, along with photographs.

For Barbara and Clive Sohan of Hazlet, N.J., who lost their only child, 32-year-old Astrid Sohan, a death certificate was a way to try to move past paralyzing uncertainty.

"I just have to find a way to move on," Mrs. Sohan said. "There's no body, so at this point I don't even know what to think. Yesterday was her birthday, and we just stayed at home. We were numb."

Dozens of lawyers are donating their help, and the city expects to help 500 to 600 families a day. By the end of the first day, 297 families had started the process, aided by 120 attorneys.

Family members were asked to provide names, addresses, dates of birth, the circumstances of their last contact with the victim, and the reason they believe the victim was at the trade center the morning of Sept. 11.

Steven Fischner, the city's criminal justice coordinator, said the lawyers would prepare an affidavit that would be presented to a judge along with one from an employer or airline vouching for the victim's presence at the disaster. The judge would then send an order to the medical examiner. The Health Department would then issue a death certificate.

Astrid Sohan's father told of the three heartbreaking messages his daughter, who worked at the reinsurance company Marsh & McLennan, had sent by beeper to a friend before disappearing.

"The first message said, `There's a fire and it's dark.' The next time she said, `It's very dark and there's so much smoke. We're huddling in the corner.' And in the last one, she just said, `Tell my boyfriend and my parents that I love them.' She knew," he said, his voice trailing off.

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On the Net:

For forms and details at the New York City Web site: www.nyc.gov

AP-WS-09-26-01 2140EDT