latelenovela Chapter 1375 Wang Dianquan, the complainant
Chapter 1375 Wang Dianquan, the complainant
The marks were perpendicular to the growth direction of the corn stalks, suggesting they were formed by the suspect's body rubbing against the stalks as he fled. "Use an adhesive extractor to collect the substance from the marks and see if there is any skin tissue or fibers from the suspect," Xiao Yang said. Xiao Sun immediately took out the adhesive extractor, gently picked up some material from the marks, and then placed the extractor into the evidence bag.
To determine the time of the crime, Xiao Yang and Xiao Sun analyzed the vegetation and soil at the scene. The corn stalks beneath the body had been crushed, and the leaves showed slight signs of wilting, but still retained some green color, suggesting the crushing occurred between 12 and 24 hours prior. The soil at the scene was quite moist, and the soil around the footprints was not completely dry. Combined with the local weather forecast (light rain expected on the evening of September 11th), they estimated the crime likely occurred between 8 PM on September 11th and 4 AM on September 12th.
As the on-site investigation neared its end, Xiao Yang and Xiao Sun summarized the collected physical evidence: one footprint of the deceased, two footprints of the suspect, several pieces of black fiber, one brass-colored metal button, one corncob with bite marks, and two adhesive tools with traces of wiping. All the evidence was sealed and labeled, ready to be taken back to the technical department for further examination. They also took panoramic photos and videos of the scene, created a preliminary on-site investigation map, and detailed the location of the body, the distribution of footprints, and the locations where evidence was collected.
At 11:30 a.m., the preliminary investigation was completed. Xiao Yang and Xiao Sun reported the results to Li Ming: "Team Leader Li, the preliminary investigation of the scene is complete. Some trace evidence has been collected, but no obvious clues pointing directly to the suspect have been found. The identity of the deceased has not yet been confirmed, and no obvious fatal wounds were found on the surface of the body. The specific cause of death requires further forensic examination. The suspect's footprints and black fibers found at the scene may provide direction for solving the case."
After hearing the report, Li Ming immediately made arrangements: "First, the technical department should immediately examine the extracted physical evidence, focusing on analyzing the composition of the black fiber, the origin of the metal button, and the characteristics of the footprints, in an effort to identify the suspect. Second, arrange for investigators to conduct door-to-door investigations in Wangjia Village and surrounding villages to find out if any outsiders have entered or left recently, and if any villagers have gone missing. Third, contact the forensic department to conduct an autopsy on the body to determine the cause of death and the exact time of death. Fourth, retrieve surveillance footage from the surrounding area, focusing on the footage near the western entrance to search for the suspect's whereabouts."
Li Ming then approached Wang Dianquan, the person who reported the crime, to further understand the situation. Wang Dianquan, 58, is a long-time resident of Wangjia Village, making a living by growing corn and wheat. "I came to the cornfield at 6 a.m. this morning to harvest corn. When I got here, I saw a patch of fallen corn stalks. Upon closer inspection, I discovered a corpse. I was so frightened my legs went weak, and I immediately pulled out my phone to call the police," Wang Dianquan recalled. "I was working in this cornfield yesterday afternoon, and at that time I didn't notice anything unusual, nor did I see any strangers nearby. Our village is usually very peaceful; outsiders rarely come, let alone a murder like this."
Li Ming then inquired about the deceased from Wang Dianquan. Wang Dianquan stated that he had never seen this person before, and that the deceased's clothing and appearance did not resemble those of a local; he was likely a migrant worker. Wang Dianquan also mentioned that several corn merchants had recently visited the village, but they all came during the day and left at night, and he did not know their identities.
During their investigation, detectives learned that the peanut field west of Wangjia Village belonged to the neighboring Lijia Village, and several paths around the peanut field led to the town. Recently, some villagers had seen a strange man loitering near the peanut field at night, but due to the darkness, they could not clearly see the man's appearance or clothing. This information matched the clue discovered during the crime scene investigation that the suspect escaped through the western entrance, providing a new direction for the case investigation.
At this moment, the security at the scene remained in place, and forensic personnel were carefully loading the collected evidence into police cars. Xiao Yang stood by the cornfield, gazing at the crime scene before him, his brow furrowed. Although some trace evidence had been collected, the complex environment and incomplete preservation of the evidence made identifying the suspect far from easy. The fact that the victim's identity was unknown posed a significant challenge to the investigation. "Captain Yang, we'll go back and immediately examine the fibers and buttons, striving for results as soon as possible," Xiao Sun said, approaching Xiao Yang. Xiao Yang nodded: "Okay, we must find a breakthrough as quickly as possible and give the deceased justice."
At noon, Li Ming led his team to leave the scene and return to the Criminal Investigation Detachment. In the car, the investigators were organizing the scene investigation records and interview information, each with a solemn expression. This murder case, which occurred in a cornfield during the autumn harvest, hung like a dark cloud over Wangjia Village, making it difficult to breathe. For Li Ming and his team, however, a race against time to solve the case had only just begun. They knew that only by quickly identifying the victim and apprehending the suspect could they bring justice to the deceased and restore peace to the villagers.
Back at the Criminal Investigation Division, the technical department immediately began examining the collected physical evidence. Xiao Yang was responsible for analyzing the footprint characteristics, comparing the suspect's footprints collected at the scene with those in the database. He also meticulously analyzed the wear and pressure distribution of the footprints to try and deduce the suspect's occupation and lifestyle. Xiao Sun was responsible for analyzing the black fibers and metal buttons. He sent the black fibers to a spectrometer for testing to determine the fiber's composition and material; simultaneously, he conducted metallographic analysis on the metal buttons, looking for production markings and wear marks to try and trace their origin.
Meanwhile, investigators had divided into several groups and began a comprehensive search of Wangjia Village and surrounding villages. They went door-to-door questioning villagers to learn about recent influx of outsiders, and reviewed village surveillance footage to track down the suspect. In addition, investigators contacted nearby police stations and labor markets, disseminating the deceased's physical characteristics in hopes of identifying him.
As night fell, the Criminal Investigation Division's office building remained brightly lit. Li Ming sat in his office, deep in thought, looking at the crime scene investigation report and interview records on his desk. The suspect's footprints, black fibers, and metal buttons recovered from the scene were the only clues available; the victim's identity was unknown, and the motive remained undetermined.