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Renowned Criminologist Henry Lee's Career Ends Amid Controversy
28 Mar
Summary
- Renowned forensic scientist Henry Lee died at 87.
- He testified in high-profile cases like O.J. Simpson's.
- Later career faced accusations of fabricating evidence.
Renowned forensic scientist Henry Lee, who gained international acclaim for his work in numerous high-profile cases, including the O.J. Simpson trial, died on Friday at his home in Henderson, Nev. He was 87.
Dr. Lee, a professor at the University of New Haven for over 50 years, consulted for approximately 600 law enforcement agencies and provided testimony in more than 1,000 court cases. He initially built his reputation in 1976 by identifying a murder victim from bone fragments after a wood-chipping incident, leading to Connecticut's first conviction without a corpse.
His career, however, was later marked by controversy. In the O.J. Simpson case, he testified for the defense, suggesting issues with evidence handling. Later, in the Phil Spector trial, a judge noted he removed and hid evidence. In 2023, a $25 million settlement was reached concerning convictions based partly on his testimony, which a federal judge found to be fabricated.
Born in China in 1938, Dr. Lee overcame significant hardship, including fleeing to Taiwan and losing his father at a young age. He arrived in the U.S. with limited English and worked various jobs while pursuing his education in forensic science. He served in leadership roles for Connecticut's criminal justice system before his passing.
