TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Henry C. Lee (李昌鈺), a forensic scientist who shaped some of the most high-profile criminal investigations of the past half-century, died Friday at his home in the US at 87.
Throughout his career, Lee played a key role in thousands of criminal investigations worldwide. His expertise shaped inquiries ranging from the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy and the forensic analysis following the Sept. 11 attacks in New York, to the 1996 slaying of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey and 2004 shooting of Taiwan’s national leaders, according to Tai Sounds.
“What he has done has changed the face of forensic knowledge among police officers and other criminal justice professionals,” Mary Galvin, a retired Connecticut state’s attorney, told the New York Times in 2000, around the time Lee was finishing his role as Commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Public Safety.
Lee’s formative years and early career unfolded in Taiwan. He graduated from Central Police University in 1960 and became the country’s youngest police captain at age 22, according to Taiwan People News.
In 1964, he left Taiwan with his wife and US$50 to pursue further education in the US, later describing the experience as his “American Dream.” He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal science from John Jay College in 1972, followed by master’s and doctoral degrees in biochemistry and molecular chemistry from New York University.
In 1975, Lee joined the University of New Haven. He founded its forensic science program and transformed a modest classroom into an internationally respected center for forensic education.
Lee first gained recognition in Connecticut for the 1986 disappearance of flight attendant Helle Crafts. By analyzing tiny bone fragments, a thumb tip, a tooth crown, and hair found near her home, he helped prove that her husband had dismembered her body, leading to a conviction despite the absence of a recovered body, according to My Northwest.
In 1998, he established the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science, which in 2010 moved into a state-of-the-art facility featuring a crime scene center, cold case center, advanced labs, and crisis management resources.
Lee served as a forensic consultant across all 50 US states, worked in over 46 countries, testified in court more than 1,000 times, and advised over 600 law enforcement agencies. He also delivered lectures in more than 70 countries.
Lee remained deeply connected to Taiwan. He assisted in high-profile cases including the murders of politicians Liu Pang-you (劉邦友) and Peng Wan-ju (彭婉如), the Pai Hsiao-yen (白曉燕) kidnapping and murder, and the wrongful death penalty case of Su Chien-ho (蘇建和), Chuang Lin-hsun (莊林勳), and Liu Bing-lang (劉秉郎) involving double murder charges.
In the March 19, 2004 shooting of then-President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien (呂秀蓮) in Tainan, Lee analyzed the bullets and used laser trajectory methods to confirm they were fired from outside the vehicle, dispelling claims of a staged attack. He also identified solid copper bullet cores with distinctive machine marks, which helped law enforcement to pinpoint the perpetrator.
Lee proposed the creation of a Taiwan forensic foundation and served as its honorary chair. The foundation runs summer camps, CSI programs, publishes forensic research, and provides opportunities for visiting scholars.
He authored or co-authored more than 40 books. Until shortly before his passing, he was working on a new book about missing persons, expected to be published soon.
“His contributions to our university as well as forensic science and law enforcement are extraordinary and unmatched,” University of New Haven President Jens Frederiksen said. “His legacy lives on in the generations of students and law enforcement professionals he impacted throughout his brilliant career.”
Known for his methodical, evidence-driven approach, Lee said he never prayed for answers. “Let the facts develop your case instead of saying, 'I have a theory,' and cut the facts to fit the theory,” he said.
