Renowned forensic scientist Henry C. Lee passed away on Friday at his home in Henderson, Nevada. He was 87. His family and the University of New Haven, where he taught for more than 50 years, announced the news.
Henry C. Lee, known in China as Li Changyu, passed away peacefully on Friday at his home in Henderson, Nevada, following a brief illness. He was 87. The news was announced by his family in conjunction with the University of New Haven, where he served as a distinguished professor for more than 50 years.
Born in 1938 in Rugao, Jiangsu province, mainland China, as the 11th of 13 children, Lee moved to Taiwan with his family, earning a degree in police administration and rising to police captain. In 1964, he and his late wife relocated to the US, where he obtained advanced degrees in forensic science and biochemistry. He joined the University of New Haven in 1975 and founded its forensic science program in 1998, overseeing the dedication of a 15,000-square-foot facility in 2010. At the ceremony, he said: "The institute will become a catalyst enabling professionals in the field to work together, making the world a smaller community engaged in fighting crime."
Lee gained international acclaim for his work on high-profile cases, including testimony in the 1995 O.J. Simpson double-murder trial where he questioned blood evidence handling; the 1996 JonBenét Ramsey slaying in Colorado; the 2004 Scott Peterson trial for the murder of his pregnant wife Laci; the 2007 Phil Spector murder trial; the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping; and post-9/11 forensic expertise. He consulted for law enforcement in all 50 US states and over 46 countries, collaborated with more than 600 agencies, and testified over 1,000 times in courts worldwide. He also served as Connecticut's public safety commissioner.
University of New Haven President Jens Frederiksen described him as "a remarkable individual whose contributions to our university, forensic science, and law enforcement are extraordinary and unmatched. His legacy will live on through the generations of students and professionals he inspired."
Deeply revered in Chinese communities, Lee promoted US-China forensic cooperation through frequent visits and lectures, with his most recent trip in June 2025 to Shanghai University of Political Science and Law to begin filming an oral history project. He authored or co-authored more than 40 books and was finalizing one on missing-persons investigations for posthumous publication.
However, his later work faced scrutiny: a 2023 federal court ruling found him liable for fabricating evidence in a 1985 Connecticut murder case that imprisoned two men for decades.
