 Although others had been killed before him, including the crews, passengers, and hijackers of the first three planes, and occupants of the towers and the Pentagon, Judge was the first certified fatality because he was the first body to be recovered and taken to the medical examiner.Judge's body was formally identified by NYPD Detective Steven McDonald, a long-time friend.The New York Medical Examiner found that Judge died of "blunt force trauma to the head".