Kevin Cosgrove

Kevin Cosgrove
Born Kevin Michael Cosgrove
(1955-01-06)January 6, 1955
Long Island, New York, U.S.
Died September 11, 2001(2001-09-11) (aged 46)
South Tower, World Trade Center
New York City, New York, U.S.
Cause of death Collapse of the South Tower (September 11 terrorist attacks)
Resting place St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery, Huntington, New York
Residence West Islip, New York, U.S.
Occupation Vice President of the Aon Corporation
Religion Catholic
Spouse(s) Wendy Cosgrove
Children 3

Kevin Michael Cosgrove (January 6, 1955 – September 11, 2001) was an American insurance business executive and victim of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.

Cosgrove is notable because of the recording of the 9-1-1 call he made during his final moments, which ended with him screaming from inside the South Tower as it collapsed. The recording was used during the prosecution of Zacarias Moussaoui, the only criminal trial to result from the attacks. His scream as the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed made international headlines.[1][2]

Personal life

Cosgrove and his family lived in West Islip, New York.[3][4]

September 11 attacks

Cosgrove was a vice president of claims for Aon Corporation. According to the 9-1-1 recording played during the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui, Cosgrove was located in the northwest corner of the 105th floor in Two World Trade Center (the South Tower), overlooking the World Financial Center.[5]

Cosgrove told 9-1-1 dispatchers he was calling from Jonathan Ostaru's office and had two other individuals with him. One he mentioned by name: Doug Cherry. While Two World Trade Center was burning, Cosgrove said to the operator on the phone: "My wife thinks I'm all right, I called and said I was leaving the building and that I was fine, and then bang!" A 9-1-1 operator called him; he answered: "Hello. We're looking in ... we're overlooking the Financial Center. Three of us. Two broken windows." A rumbling sound was then heard as the building started to collapse. "Oh God! Oh!—" Cosgrove's call immediately cut off and ended as the South Tower collapsed.[5]

Aftermath and legacy

Cosgrove's name is located on Panel S-60 of the National September 11 Memorial's South Pool.

Cosgrove's remains were found in the rubble. He was buried on September 22, 2001, at St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery in Huntington, New York.[6] At his death, he left his wife, Wendy Cosgrove, a schoolteacher, and his three children.[4][7]

Wendy Cosgrove testified during the punishment phase of Moussaoui's trial, in which prosecutors sought the death penalty for Moussaoui. Wendy Cosgrove testified about her husband's last moments when he was trapped on the South Tower's 105th floor, and jurors heard an audio tape of Cosgrove's 9-1-1 phone call in which he told a dispatcher: "We're not ready to die."[4][8] Wendy Cosgrove also testified that their oldest son, who was 12 on the day of the attacks, suffered a decline in his academic performance and had developed anger and self-destructive habits as well as trouble with the law, while their middle child, who was 9 during the attacks, exhibited self-mutilation for which she has undergone therapy.[4]

At the National 9/11 Memorial, Cosgrove is memorialized at the South Pool on Panel S-60.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Jury hears 9/11 victim's scream". BBC News. 11 April 2006.
  2. ↑ David Stout and Neil A. Lewis (April 11, 2006). "Moussaoui Testimony Focuses on Tales of Loss". The New York Times.
  3. 1 2 Kevin Michael Cosgrove. Memorial Guide: National 9/11 Memorial. Retrieved October 28, 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Grim 9/11 evidence shown to Moussaoui jurors". Associated Press/MSNBC. April 11, 2006.
  5. 1 2 Kiehl, Stephen (September 10, 2006). "'I think we're getting hijacked'". The Baltimore Sun.
  6. ↑ "Kevin Cosgrove - Remembering Sept. 11, 2001 - Ten Years Later". Long Island Newsday. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  7. ↑ Stout, David; Lewis, Neil A. (April 11, 2006). "Moussaoui Testimony Focuses on Tales of Loss". The New York Times.
  8. ↑ "Prosecution Rests in Moussaoui Trial". PBS NewsHour. April 12, 2006. Archived from the original on September 6, 2012.
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