The global criminal justice system lost one of its foundational figures this week. Dr. Henry C. Lee, the Chinese-American forensic scientist who changed how police handle crime scenes, died on March 27, 2026. He was 87.
He passed away peacefully at his home in Henderson, Nevada. A press release confirmed he suffered a brief illness. The University of New Haven and his family officially announced his death. He showed remarkable strength in his final days. The loss creates a massive void in international forensic consulting.
Dr. Lee worked on over 8,000 criminal cases. His career spanned all 50 U.S. states and 46 countries. He pioneered the use of scientific evidence to secure criminal convictions. His world-famous casework included the O.J. Simpson trial, the JonBenét Ramsey murder, the reinvestigation of the John F. Kennedy assassination, and the 9/11 forensic response. He served as the chief criminalist for the State of Connecticut for over 20 years.
Reactions poured in immediately. Lin Yuhui, known as the “Magic Pen Police Detective,” mourned Dr. Lee publicly. Lin received a message directly from Dr. Lee’s wife, Angel Xiaping Jiang, informing him of the death.
Lin called Dr. Lee approachable and the “pride of the Chinese criminal investigation community.” The two met in 2016. They were filming the CCTV program “Challenge the Impossible.” Dr. Lee saw Lin’s sketch skills and recommended him for the 2017 Zhang Yingying kidnapping case in the United States. Lin drew a suspect sketch. The drawing successfully aided the U.S. investigation.
Tributes are physical, too. On the morning of March 28, 2026, a memorial site opened at the Li Changyu Forensic Science Museum. The museum sits in his hometown of Rugao, Jiangsu. Dr. Lee helped establish the facility in 2016 by donating his personal archives. Dozens of citizens arrived early to lay flowers.
Dr. Lee founded the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science in 1998. He never stopped working. Just prior to his death in 2026, he was actively finalizing a new book focused on missing-persons investigations. He is survived by his wife, children, stepchildren, and grandchildren.