On March 27, 2026, the leading global forensic scientist, and outstanding mentor and friend of BGI, Dr. Henry Lee, passed away peacefully in the United States at the age of 87.
In remembrance of Dr. Henry Lee (1938–2026) (Credit: University of New Haven).
Dr. Lee’s life was dedicated to using science to reconstruct and then applying that truth and his professional expertise to defend justice. And he did that in some of the United States’ most high-profile cases of the past 40 years including the O. J. Simpson and Laci Peterson cases, the JonBenét Ramsey murder case, the 9/11 forensic investigation, and he also reinvestigated the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
Born in 1938 in China’s Jiangsu Province, Dr. Lee was the 11th of 13 children. His early career was in the police force, and it was not until he and his wife moved to the U.S. in 1964 that he began his studies in forensic science in New York city earning a Bachelor of Science and then going on to complete a Master of Science Degree and PhD. In Biochemistry at New York University.
He saw forensic science as reasoning grounded in logic and verification based on physical evidence. Dr. Lee promoted the application of genetic technology in the field of justice and it was this shared belief in using science to protect justice that led BGI and Dr. Lee to build a deep friendship spanning more than twenty years.
In 2004, Dr. Lee visited BGI in Beijing and exchanged views with the BGI team on DNA identification technology and evidence standards.
In 2015, he attended the 10th International Conference on Genomics (ICG-10) and delivered a keynote speech on DNA evidence in criminal investigation, pointing the way for genomic technology to empower forensic and judicial work.
In 2018, he attended the founding conference of the Genome Identification Working Group and stated that the era of genetic technology presented China with the best opportunity for its standards to reach the world stage.
In November 2023, the second phase of the Henry C. Lee Museum of Forensic Sciences in Rugao, Jiangsu opened. Academician Yang Huanming, Co-founder and Director-General of BGI, donated two domestically produced high-throughput sequencers on behalf of BGI. Dr. Lee also held an in-depth dialogue with Dr. Yin Ye, CEO of BGI Group, conveying the rational spirit of scientific investigation.
(Credit: Henry C. Lee Museum of Forensic Sciences)
In December 2023, Dr. Lee visited the BGI Group Headquarters in Shenzhen and shared insights from famous cases around the world.
In 2025, he attended the “Public Welfare Activity for the Identification of Remains of Anti-Japanese War Veterans,” jointly organized by BGI and Shanghai University of Political Science and Law.
While Lee gained fame through his testimony in high profile legal cases and demonstrating the power of applying science to the study of forensics, he was committed to teaching and nurturing generations of forensic scientists with the latest techniques for scientific discovery. He authored or co-authored more than 40 books and spent much of his time Connecticut where he helped to build the University of New Haven’s forensic science program from scratch. He also founded a forensics institute in his name at the school to train and provide case consultation to forensic and criminal justice professionals.
“Dr. Lee was a remarkable individual,” University of New Haven President Jens Frederiksen said in a statement. “His contributions to our University as well as forensic science and law enforcement are extraordinary and unmatched. His legacy lives on in the generations of students and law enforcement professionals he impacted throughout his brilliant career.”
Dr. Lee’s global legacy is not only legendary crime-solving stories and advanced forensic techniques, but also reverence for truth, devotion to science, and faith in justice. Through his work he taught people to protect fairness with evidence, illuminate the obscure with science, and remain steadfast through life’s ups and downs with optimism and perseverance.
Rest in Peace Dr. Henry Lee (November 22, 1938 – March 27, 2026). You will long be remembered at BGI and your work will continue to influence all of us for decades to come.