Forensic Scientist Henry C. Lee Dies at 87

Henry C. Lee, the renowned forensic scientist whose expert testimony in high-profile trials helped popularize modern crime scene investigation, died Friday at his home in Henderson, Nevada. He was 87.

Lee passed away peacefully following a brief illness, according to a joint statement from his family and the University of New Haven, where he served as a professor for more than 50 years. The university announced plans to share details on memorial arrangements in the coming days.

Lee first gained national attention in the 1980s through his work on the so-called wood chipper murder case in Connecticut. As chief criminalist for the state, he analyzed small fragments of bone, a thumb tip, a tooth crown and strands of hair found near the home of missing flight attendant Helle Crafts. His findings supported prosecutors' claims that Crafts' husband, Richard Crafts, had dismembered her body and disposed of it in a wood chipper. The evidence led to a conviction despite the absence of a full body.

His prominence grew further with his 1995 testimony in the O.J. Simpson murder trial, where he questioned the handling of blood evidence at the crime scene. Lee later consulted on other notable...