Dr. Henry Chang-Yu Lee, one of the most accomplished forensic scientists in American history, died peacefully at his home in Henderson, Nevada, on March 27, 2026. He was 87.

Born on November 22, 1938, in Rugao, Jiangsu, China, Lee grew up in Taiwan, the youngest of thirteen children. He earned a bachelor's degree in police science from Central Police College in Taipei before immigrating to the United States. He went on to earn both a master's degree and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from New York University, according to the University of New Haven.

Lee's career in forensic science spanned more than five decades. He served as Connecticut's chief criminalist and director of the state police forensic laboratory from 1978 to 2000, transforming it into one of the most advanced crime labs in the country. He later served as commissioner of Public Safety for the state of Connecticut from 1998 to 2000, as reported by NBC Connecticut.

Throughout his career, Dr. Lee provided forensic expertise in all 50 states and across 46 countries, testifying more than 1,000 times in both criminal and civil courts. He was consulted on some of the most prominent cases in American criminal history, including the investigation of the Helle Crafts woodchipper murder, which became the first murder conviction in Connecticut without the recovery of the victim's body.

Lee was a prolific author and educator. He published more than 40 books on forensic science and criminal investigation, and served as a distinguished professor at the University of New Haven for more than 50 years. He founded the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science, which became a leading center for forensic education and research, according to WFSB.

His contributions to the field earned him numerous honors, including the Distinguished Criminalist Award from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences in 1986, the Medal of Justice from the Justice Foundation in 1996, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American College of Forensic Examiners in 2000, and the Medal of Honor from the Ellis Island Foundation in 2004. He also received Congressional Recognition for Outstanding Service from the U.S. Congress in 2004.

Lee and his research team advanced forensic science through innovations in bloody fingerprint analysis, novel procedures for extracting DNA from evidence, and techniques for estimating blood volume at crime scenes. University of New Haven President Jens Frederiksen said: "Dr. Lee was a remarkable individual. His contributions to our University as well as forensic science and law enforcement are extraordinary and unmatched."

In his final days, Dr. Lee was completing a book on missing-persons investigations, which will be published posthumously. He is survived by his wife and family.