Murder In America: NEW YORK - September 11th, 2001: Never Forget (AD-FREE RE-RELEASE)

Podcast: Murder In America (Bloody FM)
Hosts: Courtney Shannon & Colin Browen
Release Date: September 11, 2025 (original episode from 2021, marking the 20th anniversary)

Episode Overview

This powerful, ad-free re-release commemorates the events and victims of September 11th, 2001, on its 20th anniversary. Courtney and Colin meticulously walk listeners through the timeline of the attacks, offer personal stories from victims and survivors, share rarely heard audio and emotional moments, and reflect on the lasting impact of 9/11 on the United States and the world. Rather than focusing solely on true crime, the episode is positioned as one of the most significant and tragic murder stories in American history—a day that transformed a nation forever.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Reflections and Trigger Warning

• [00:00-01:17] Colin introduces the episode’s intent: “We are re releasing our earlier episode about the 9/11 attacks completely ad free because Courtney and I want to memorialize the victims and the events of that day in any way that we possibly can.”
• Emphasis on the unsettling and graphic detail of the episode; explicit trigger warnings for violence and traumatic content.

2. Setting the Scene: A Quiet Tuesday Morning

• [01:48-03:42] Courtney sets the tone by painting a vivid picture of a peaceful September morning in New York.
• “2,973 people nationwide would leave their homes that morning completely unaware that this would be their very last day on earth.”
• Timeline of the attacks is carefully outlined:
  • 8:46am: Flight 11 crashes into the North Tower.
  • 9:03am: Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower.
  • 9:37am: Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon.
  • 10:03am: Flight 93 crashes in Pennsylvania.

3. The Hijackings: Detailed Timelines and Eyewitness Accounts

American Airlines Flight 11 (North Tower)

• [04:24-12:59]
  • Hijackers described boarding at Logan International, their methodical tactics, and the rapid descent into violence.
  • Flight attendant Betty Ong’s call recounted (“Hello, my name is Betty Ong… the cockpit's not answering…” [06:53])—a chilling, real-time account of chaos and confusion.
  • Amy Sweeney, another attendant, provides crucial info, her last words: “We are flying very, very low. We are flying way too low. Oh my God. Oh my God.” ([10:48])
• Inside the North Tower:
  • Emergency dispatcher call from 106th floor: “We have smoke and it's pretty bad. We can't get down the stairs.” ([17:10])
  • Personal stories, like Melissa Hughes calling her father and saying goodbye from the 101st floor ([17:48]).

United Airlines Flight 175 (South Tower)

• [24:30-33:43]
  • Real-time pilot communications as the second plane is hijacked and crashes.
  • Poignant voicemails from passengers, like Brian Sweeney to his wife Julie: “If things don't go well… I want you to know I absolutely love you... I'll see you when you get there. Bye, babe.” ([27:03])
  • Peter Hansen’s heartbreaking last call to his father about being hijacked with his wife and two-year-old daughter—the youngest victim of 9/11 ([28:08-29:08]).

The Impact and Immediate Aftermath

• [16:26-20:56]
  • Trapped in the towers: 911 calls, accounts of jumping from windows, vivid commentary on the desperation of those inside.
  • Discussion of the “jumpers”—the estimated 200 who leapt from the towers, with personal, haunting anecdotes: “She had a business suit on, her hair was all askew… she held down her skirt and then stepped off the ledge. I thought, how human, how modest...” ([22:06])

4. Humanizing the Numbers: Stories of Individuals

• [18:26-19:35] The story of Jim Gardenberg, who left a voicemail for his wife, trying to reassure her moments before dying.
• [38:27-41:04] Survivor stories from the South Tower: Keating Crown and Brian Clark among just 18 people to escape from floors above the impact.

5. First Responders: Bravery Amidst Chaos

• [41:04-45:56]
  • Firefighter communications capture the confusion and danger inside the towers.
  • The collapse of the South Tower at 9:59am, with the final 911 call from Kevin Cosgrove (“I must have called about a dozen times already... We’re looking at the Financial Center…” [45:19])—his call ends as the tower falls.
  • Courtney: “Hundreds of their fellow firefighters, their co workers and friends are dead.” ([44:43])

6. The Other Planes

American Airlines Flight 77 (Pentagon)

• [48:16-52:44]
  • Hijacked about 20 minutes into the flight; at 9:37am, it crashes into the Pentagon.
  • Real-time confusion within air traffic control as they fail to track the hijacked plane.

United Airlines Flight 93 (Shanksville, PA)

• [52:44-71:13]
  • Passengers become aware of the other attacks by making calls to loved ones.
  • Multiple listener testimonials and voicemail recordings, including Tom Burnett, Elizabeth Waino, Lauren Grandkolis, and Linda Gronley.
    • Elizabeth’s mom: “Look, Elizabeth, I've got my arms around you and I love you...” ([59:47])
  • Cece Lyles’ message to her husband: “I'm on a plane that's been hijacked… I hope to be able to see your face again, baby. I love you.” ([64:56])
• The Revolt:
  • Todd Beamer speaks to a call center worker, famously saying, “Let’s roll.” ([69:08])
  • The passengers’ planned revolt causes the plane to crash in Pennsylvania; they are credited with saving innumerable lives.

7. Aftermath in New York

• [71:22-74:49]
  • Second tower collapse at 10:28am; chaos on the streets.
  • Emotional news coverage: “There are no words. I'm about a block away and there were several people that were hanging out the windows right below where the plane crashed when suddenly you saw the top of the building start to shake and people began leaping from the windows…” ([71:39])
  • Overloaded communications; thousands left uncertain about loved ones’ fates.

8. Search, Identification, and Loss

• [74:49-77:12]
  • Search & rescue finds 18 alive in the rubble; 60% of bodies identified, with many families never given closure.
  • Recent advances see victims’ DNA identified even decades later.

Deeper Dive: The Roots, Planners, and Motives

9. Who and Why? The Path to 9/11

• [77:12-85:31]
  • Background on Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda’s ideology, and why America was targeted.
  • Quotes from Al Qaeda’s fatwas: “We with God's help call on every Muslim who believes in God and wishes to be rewarded to comply with God's order to kill the Americans and plunder their Money wherever and whenever they find it.” ([78:33])
• [79:28-82:06]
  • Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the true mastermind, and initial plans to hijack up to 12 planes.
  • Recruitment and radicalization, often in Europe, with “ordinary” backgrounds.

10. Detailed Preparation & Missed Warnings

• [85:31-92:37]
  • Years of planning, flight school training, and meticulous attention to US security failures.
  • Chilling accounts of hijackers blending into normal American life, frequenting shops, gyms, and even tourist attractions in places like Florida and California.
  • Security oversights highlighted—a hijacker triggering the metal detector but waved through ([91:19]).

11. The Morning of September 11th

• [91:19-93:28]
  • The hijackers’ final preparations and their ordinary appearances at security checkpoints—a grim lesson in how indistinguishable evil can appear.

The Legacy of 9/11

12. Immediate and Long-Term Impact

• [93:28-94:59]
  • War in Afghanistan, the formation of the Department of Homeland Security, TSA, and increased government surveillance.
  • “Americans lost their privacy. To some degree, US Intelligence agencies became much bolder. They began spying on normal Americans.” ([94:35])
• [94:59-95:12]
  • The hosts reflect on the loss of innocence and permanent transformation of America.

13. Stories of Luck and Survival

• [95:12-98:29]
  • Personal accounts showing how minor choices—changing a shirt, missing a flight—meant the difference between life and death.
  • “All of these stories are from people who, without even realizing, made a decision that day that would save their lives.” ([98:29])
  • Quote from author Garrett Graff: “The sheer randomness of how the day unfolded. Who lived, who died, who was touched, who escaped… 1,000 times a day, we all make arbitrary decisions…” ([99:24])

14. The Memorial and Remembrance

• [100:03-102:33]
  • Present-day Ground Zero: the transformation from rubble to a place of peace and collective mourning.
  • “Despite all the hatred and horror that occurred at the World Trade Center on 9/11, there is now a sense of peace that resides over the memorial.” ([101:08])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Betty Ong’s call from Flight 11:
  “The cockpit's not answering. Somebody stabbed in business class... we can't breathe.” ([06:53])
• Amy Sweeney’s final words:
  “We are flying very, very low. We are flying way too low. Oh my God. Oh my God.” ([10:48])
• Ryan Sweeney’s voicemail to his wife:
  “If things don't go well and it's not looking good, I absolutely love you... I'll see you when you get there. Bye, babe.” ([27:03])
• On the jumpers:
  “She held down her skirt and then stepped off the ledge. I thought, how human, how modest to hold down her skirt before she jumped.” ([22:06])
• Fire Division Chief Peter Hayden:
  “We had a very strong sense we would lose firefighters and that we were in deep trouble. But we had estimates of 25,000 to 50,000 civilians, and we had to try to rescue them.” ([41:04])
• Elizabeth Waino’s mother, as her daughter called from Flight 93:
  “Look, Elizabeth, I've got my arms around you and I love you. Let's just be together here.” ([59:47])
• Todd Beamer’s famous last words:
  “Let's roll.” ([69:08])
• On randomness and fate:
  “Wherever you are in life is exactly where you’re meant to be.” ([99:01])
• Courtney’s closing reflection:
  “If we learn nothing else from this tragedy, we learn that life is short and there's no time for hate... our days are not promised and everything can change in the blink of an eye. So enjoy every moment you’re given, be kind to one another, tell your friends and family how much you love them, and never take your life for granted.” ([101:08])

Timestamps for Significant Segments

• [01:48] “It’s September 11, 2001 in New York City…” – The morning begins.
• [06:53] Betty Ong’s chilling real-time call from Flight 11.
• [12:59] North Tower is struck; on-the-ground eyewitness accounts.
• [17:10] The Windows on the World 911 call—immediate panic inside the tower.
• [22:06] Graphic account of the “jumpers” and their impossible choices.
• [24:30] Flight 175 hijacking; final calls from passengers.
• [27:03] Ryan Sweeney’s voicemail; Peter Hansen’s calls about his wife and daughter.
• [29:37] The world realizes this is no accident—second plane hits South Tower.
• [41:04] Firefighters’ heroism and the South Tower collapse.
• [45:19] Final 911 call from Kevin Cosgrove as he dies during collapse.
• [54:26] Audio from Flight 93’s cockpit struggle.
• [59:47] Elizabeth Waino’s peaceful call to her mother from Flight 93.
• [69:08] Todd Beamer: “Let’s roll.”
• [71:39] Collapse of the North Tower and mass devastation.
• [74:49] Aftermath: Missing persons, desperate families, and ongoing pain.
• [77:21] Explanation of Al Qaeda’s motives and background.
• [91:19] Security failures and morning-of details as hijackers board flights.
• [95:12] Survival stories—those saved by coincidence or small choices.
• [100:03] The 9/11 Memorial’s role in remembrance and healing.
• [101:08] Closing reflections, life lessons, and a call for empathy and awareness.

Tone and Style

Courtney and Colin’s narration is somber, respectful, and thorough—with a sense of reverence for the victims and survivors and a deep focus on humanizing what could otherwise be a recitation of headlines. Their careful inclusion of firsthand phone calls, survivor interviews, and family reflections heightens the raw emotional impact. The episode is at once informative, heartbreaking, and ultimately, a moving tribute.

Final Reflections

The episode ends not with the show’s regular sign-off or talk of paranormal tales, but with Colin inviting listeners to honor a minute of silence—for “life, love, liberty, and America, [and] those lives that were lost” ([102:33]). Both hosts encourage listeners to hold close the lesson that each day is precious.

This episode stands as both a meticulously documented historical account and a deeply personal memorial—a reminder to ‘Never Forget’ not just the events, but the individual lives and the collective loss of September 11th, 2001.