Renowned Forensic Scientist Dr. Henry C. Lee Passes, Leaving Lasting Legacy
Renowned forensic scientist Dr. Henry C. Lee passed away on March 27, 2026. He died at his home in Henderson, Nevada, after a brief illness. He was 87 years old.
Academic career and the Henry C. Lee Institute
Dr. Lee joined the University of New Haven in 1975. He built the university’s forensic science program from a single fingerprint kit into a leading department.
In 1998 he founded the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science. In 2010 the university opened a three-story, 15,000 square-foot building for the institute. The facility includes a crime scene center, a high-tech forensic room, a crisis management center and a modern learning center.
Teaching and scholarship
He taught at the University of New Haven for more than 50 years. He authored or co-authored over 40 books. At the time of his death he was finalizing a book on missing-persons investigations.
State service and leadership
Dr. Lee served as chief criminalist for Connecticut and directed the state police forensic lab from 1978 to 2000. He was Commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Public Safety and the Connecticut State Police from 1998 to 2000.
From 2000 to 2010 he held the title of Chief Emeritus for Connecticut’s Division of Scientific Services. Colleagues cited his influence on forensic practice in policing and criminal justice.
High-profile investigations and global work
He worked as a forensic expert across all 50 states and in more than 46 countries. He lectured in over 70 countries and consulted for about 600 law enforcement agencies.
Dr. Lee testified more than 1,000 times in criminal and civil courts worldwide. He assisted many major cases, including O.J. Simpson, JonBenét Ramsey, Helle Crafts, Laci Peterson, Chandra Levy, Elizabeth Smart, 9/11 forensics, and the JFK reinvestigation.
Media and public outreach
He hosted a crime-documentary series on Court TV in 2004 titled Trace Evidence. He remained a popular figure with students and alumni, often appearing at campus events.
Early life and education
Henry C. Lee was born on November 22, 1938, in Rugao, Jiangsu, China. A multi-story museum in Rugao honors his career.
His family moved to Taiwan. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in police administration from Central Police College in 1960. He joined the Taipei Police Department and became captain at 22, the youngest captain in Taiwanese history.
Dr. Lee moved to the United States with his late wife in 1964. He earned a bachelor’s degree in forensic science from John Jay College in 1972. He completed a master’s in biochemistry in 1974 and a Ph.D. in 1975 from New York University.
Honors, motto and university ties
He received 30 honorary degrees, including honors from the University of New Haven in 1991 and 2010. He served as an emeritus member of the university’s Board of Governors for nearly 30 years.
Dr. Lee gave commencement addresses in 1991 and in Spring 2025. He encouraged graduates to persist and to adopt positive thinking. His well-known motto urged people to make the impossible possible.
Family and legacy
He was predeceased by his wife, Margaret Lee, in 2017. He is survived by his daughter Sherry Hersey and her husband Ted, and by his son Stanley Lee and his wife Romy.
His grandchildren include David Hersey, Rachel Hersey Hotaj, Joseph Lee and Alexander Lee. He also is survived by his wife Angel Xiaping Jiang and her sons Yan Liu and Tianchen Liu. He credited his sister, Dr. Sylvia Lee-Huang, for long-standing support.
Giving and memorial preferences
Dr. Lee regularly donated speaking honoraria and made major gifts to support forensic education. He requested no memorial or celebration of life.
Donations may be directed to the Friends of Dr. Henry C. Lee Fund. That fund supports laboratory space, equipment and teaching facilities at the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences.
For special gift discussions email [email protected] or call (203) 932-7263. Friends may post memories, photos and comments on a dedicated Kudoboard page.
Reporting for Filmogaz.com: Renowned forensic scientist Dr. Henry C. Lee passed, leaving a lasting legacy in forensic science.
