Vidocq Society
The Vidocq Society is a members-only crime-solving club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is named for Eugène François Vidocq, the ground-breaking 19th century French and first private detective,[1] who helped police by using the psychology of the criminal to solve cold case homicides.[2] A former criminal himself, he created the private detective agency. He is also considered to be one of the fathers of modern criminology, for the numerous inventions (for example indelible ink and unalterable bond paper) and major advances, such as the introduction of undercover work, ballistics, a record keeping system to criminal investigation, and the first ever plaster cast impressions of shoe prints[3][4] At meetings, law enforcement officials from around the world present cold cases for review.
Members are forensic professionals; current and former FBI profilers, homicide investigators, scientists, psychologists, prosecutors and coroners who use their experience to provide new insights for investigations that have gone cold.[5] Membership is capped at 82, one for each year of Vidocq's life.[6]
The Society was formed in 1990 by William Fleisher, Richard Walter, and Frank Bender.[7][5] It solved its first case in 1991, clearing an innocent man of involvement in the murder of Huey Cox in Little Rock, Arkansas. In addition to the investigation of the 1957 murder of Joseph Augustus Zarelli ("Boy in the Box"), the Society was involved in solving the murder of Terri Brooks.[2] Some law enforcement agencies doubt the efficacy of their work.[8]
Vidocq will only consider cases that meet certain requirements: they must be unsolved deaths more than two years old and the case must be formally presented to them by the appropriate law enforcement agency.
References
- ^ Hügel, Hans-Otto: Untersuchungsrichter, Diebsfänger, Detektive. Metzler, 1978, ISBN 3-476-00383-3, S. 17.
- ^ a b Monroe, Howard (12 August 2010). "The Vidocq Society: Solving Murders Over Lunch". NPR.org. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ Siegel, Jay A.: Forensic Science: The Basics. CRC Press, 2006, ISBN 0-8493-2132-8, S. 12.
- ^ Conser, James Andrew and Russell, Gregory D.: Law Enforcement in the United States. Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 2005, ISBN 0-7637-8352-8, S. 39.
- ^ a b "The Vidocq Society: Murder on the menu". www.telegraph.co.uk. 21 November 2008. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ Capuzzo, Michael (10 August 2010). "Meet Sherlock Holmes 2.0". Esquire. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ Wallace, Rob; Putrino, Lauren; McCarthy, Tom (11 August 2010). "Cold Case Squad: Modern-Day 'Sherlock Holmes' Team Takes on Oregon Slaying". ABC News. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ MARCZELY GIMPEL, DIANE (29 November 1999). "VIDOCQ SOCIETY SOLVES COLD CRIMES FOR FREE DETECTIVES CLUB CLAIMS IT HELPED FINGER BUCKS MAN'S SON'S MURDERER, BUT DA DOUBTS GROUP'S SLEUTHING EFFECTIVENESS". The Morning Call. Retrieved 16 April 2021.