Criminal investigators from Lehigh, Berks, Northampton, Carbon, Lycoming and Monroe counties will be attending a weeklong Cold Case Conference featuring lectures by members of the Vidocq Society - experts in analyzing evidence in long-unsolved murders and other major crimes.

Lehigh County District Attorney James B. Martin will host the conference June 18-22 at Muhlenberg College in Allentown.

Participants will learn investigative techniques and have the opportunity to present their cases to society members. The conference is co-hosted by Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams, Carbon County District Attorney Gary F. Dobias and Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli.

Topics will include:

• Maintaining the integrity of a crime scene
• Interviewing and interrogation
• DNA analysis
• Toxicology
• Blood spatter analysis
• Mexican drug gangs
• Ritual killings
• Polygraph examination
• Criminal profiles
• Child abductions

The Vidocq Society was founded in 1990 by Richard Walter; William Fleisher, a former Philadelphia police officer and FBI special agent who later became the assistant special agent in charge of the U.S. Customs Service in Philadelphia, and the late Frank Bender, a forensic sculptor from Philadelphia.

The society is made up of more than 150 members from diverse backgrounds.

The Vidocq credo is Veritas Veritatum – the Truth of Truths.

Eugene Francois Vidocq was a fugitive from French justice in the 18th century who offered his services as a police spy and informer. Vidocq’s success at catching criminals became legendary, and he eventually directed a force of 28 detectives who were also former criminals.