The mysteries of forensic science fascinate many, and the works of professional forensic anthropologists solve many crimes.

These professionals assist law enforcement all across the country in putting together the pieces of the puzzle to solve a case and to help families find answers.

Concordia Parish Library, the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Concordia Parish District Attorney’s Office will present Louisiana’s top forensic anthropologist, Mary Manhein, at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center located on the Mississippi River.

The Vidalia Conference Center and Comfort Suites Riverfront and Spa are also sponsors in bringing Manhein to the Miss-Lou.

This event is free and open to the public.

In 2004, Manhein visited the Vidalia area with a presentation to more than 200 citizens.

This was shortly after she published, “The Bone Lady: Life as a Forensic Anthropologist.”

Manhein revealed her role as an expert witness and what she had done to help forensic anthropology.

From this point on, she has been known as the Bone Lady.  In the last 30 years, she has helped authorities to identify hundreds of deceased persons throughout Louisiana and beyond.

Recently, Manhein worked on a case in Catahoula Parish.

In her new book titled  “Bone Remains : Cold Cases in Forensic Anthropology,” she offers details of 20 riveting cases from her files with many involving facial reconstructions where only bones offered clues to an individual’s story.

This book will be available following the program.
Manhein also explains the workings inside her lab and DNA databases, as she and her team work tirelessly to identify and seek justice for those who can no longer speak for themselves.

She assisted with the recovery of the astronauts from the Columbia disaster, invited twice to lecture at Scotland Yard and provided expertise for the analysis of a 2,500-year-old Egyptian mummy.

Manhein often states that the stories behind the headlines are sometimes heart wrenching because of the details of people lost and found, but some cases of missing and unidentified people can be closed cases that were believed to be unsolvable.

Manhein will share some of her stories and some of the mysteries that still elude her to local residents at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center.  Don‘t miss this rare opportunity to learn how this nationally known forensic anthropologist solves crimes.

 

Kenneth Hedrick is sheriff of Concordia Parish.