Renowned Forensic Scientist Henry Lee, Known for OJ Simpson Trial, Dies at 87

Lee's pioneering work in crime scene investigation and testimony in high-profile cases made him a household name.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 1:03am

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Henry Lee, the renowned forensic scientist who helped bring modern crime scene investigation into the public spotlight through his involvement in cases like the O.J. Simpson murder trial, has died at the age of 87. Lee passed away peacefully at his home in Henderson, Nevada, following a brief illness.

Why it matters

Lee's groundbreaking work in forensics and his testimony in some of the most high-profile criminal cases of the late 20th century made him a household name and transformed public understanding of how science can be used to solve crimes. However, his legacy was later tarnished by a federal court ruling that found he had fabricated evidence in a 1985 murder case.

The details

Born in China and later moving to Taiwan, Lee earned degrees in police administration and forensic science before immigrating to the United States in 1964. He first gained prominence for his work investigating the 1986 disappearance of flight attendant Helle Crafts, using tiny fragments of bone, hair, and other evidence to help convict her husband despite the lack of a body. Lee went on to serve as a consultant in other well-known cases, including the O.J. Simpson, JonBenet Ramsey, and Phil Spector trials. However, in 2023 a federal judge found that Lee had fabricated evidence in a 1985 murder case, leading to the wrongful imprisonment of two men for decades.

  • Lee passed away on Friday, March 28, 2026.
  • In 2023, a federal judge ruled that Lee had fabricated evidence in a 1985 murder case.

The players

Henry Lee

A renowned forensic scientist who helped bring modern crime scene investigation into the public spotlight through his involvement in high-profile cases like the O.J. Simpson murder trial. Lee taught at the University of New Haven for over 50 years and helped build its forensic science program.

Helle Crafts

A flight attendant whose 1986 disappearance was investigated by Henry Lee, who used tiny fragments of evidence to help convict her husband despite the lack of a body.

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What they’re saying

“Sometimes they compare me to Sherlock Holmes or Charlie Chan. Those are just fictional characters. In real life, the scientists, detectives and public have to work together. … We don't get commercial breaks.”

— Henry Lee

What’s next

Lee's final book on missing-persons investigations is expected to be released posthumously.

The takeaway

Henry Lee's pioneering work in forensic science and his testimony in high-profile criminal cases transformed public understanding of how science can be used to solve crimes, but his legacy was later tarnished by a federal court ruling that found he had fabricated evidence in a previous case.