Vidocq Society

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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 detective who helped police by using the psychology of the criminal to solve cold case homicides.[1] Vidocq was a former criminal himself, and used his knowledge of the criminal mind to look at murder from the psychological perspective of the perpetrator. 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.[2] Membership is capped at 82, one for each year of Vidocq's life.[3]

The Society was formed in 1990 by William Fleisher, Richard Walter, and Frank Bender.[4][2] 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 Boy in the Box investigation, the Society was involved in solving the Murder of Terri Brooks.[1] Some law enforcement agencies doubt the efficacy of their work.[5]

Vidocq will only consider cases that meet certain requirements: they must be unsolved deaths more than two years old, the victims cannot have been involved in criminal activity such as prostitution or drug dealing, and the case must be formally presented to them by the appropriate law enforcement agency.

References[]

  1. ^ a b Monroe, Howard (12 August 2010). "The Vidocq Society: Solving Murders Over Lunch". NPR.org. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Capuzzo, Michael (10 August 2010). "Meet Sherlock Holmes 2.0". Esquire. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.

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