New Haven police hiring forensic expert Henry Lee

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — New Haven police say they're hiring famed crime scientist Henry Lee as the department's lead forensic consultant.

Police Chief Dean Esserman and other department leaders are set to announce Lee's appointment Friday morning at police headquarters.

Lee rose to national prominence through his work on infamous crimes, including the O.J. Simpson and Jon Benet Ramsey cases. The 74-year-old Branford resident served as head of the Connecticut state police crime lab from 1978 to 2000 and as the state's public safety commissioner from 1998 to 2000.

Lee was born in China, and his family fled to Taiwan in World War II. His father was killed by communists, and his mother raised Lee and his 12 siblings. He came to the United States in 1965, after having served as a police captain.