latelenovela Chapter 841 Information Investigation, Expanding the Scope
Chapter 841 Information Investigation, Expanding the Scope
Next, the officers went to the workplaces of Qian and Sun, employees of the shop. Qian stated that he had searched for a long time near the trash cans the day before the incident in search of his lost keys; Sun said that he often came into contact with the trash cans when taking out the trash, but he couldn't remember the exact time. The officers took detailed notes and collected relevant witness testimonies, but were unable to determine whether the two men were connected to the case at this time.
Police officers who visited nearby businesses and communities gathered clues. A convenience store owner recalled, "The night before the incident, I saw a tall man wearing a hat and a mask loitering near the trash cans. He was wearing a dark trench coat and acting suspiciously. He stayed there for more than ten minutes before leaving."
Based on this description, officers reviewing surveillance footage identified a suspicious man from a vast amount of video data. The footage showed the man appearing at the scene around 9 PM that evening, lingering briefly before quickly leaving and disappearing into the dark alley.
"Chief Qin, a suspicious person has been spotted, and we are tracking their movements," the officer in charge of surveillance and investigation reported.
At this moment, forensic doctor Zhang Lin approached with the preliminary examination report: "Director Qin, after a detailed examination, the deceased died 30 to 36 hours ago. The head was struck multiple times, and the murder weapon resembled a claw hammer. The shape and depth of the wounds are consistent with the report. In addition, special metal fragments were detected in the deceased's clothing fibers. Composition analysis shows that they may have come from industrial processing equipment, which may be an important clue."
Qin Chuan took the report, carefully reviewed it, and instructed: "Continue to investigate further, starting with details such as the victim's injuries and clothing fibers, to obtain more clues. On the technical side, integrate the forensic findings with the fingerprints and footprints at the scene, conduct cross-analysis, and be sure to identify the suspect as soon as possible."
The specific details of the crime scene still need to be investigated by the on-site police. There won't be many results in the short term. Additionally, regarding the person who reported the crime, an elderly man named Shi Guang, he doesn't know much. He was simply rummaging through plastic bottles in a nearby trash can when he found this plastic bag, opened it, discovered a human head inside, and then called the police. A thorough investigation of the surrounding area is still needed.
Qin Chuan quickly adjusted his thinking and continued issuing instructions methodically. "Zhang Lin, the DNA identification of the skull is urgent. You lead the forensic team, using the most advanced short tandem repeat (STR) analysis technology to accurately identify the deceased's DNA. Every detail is crucial to the case's progress; strive to identify the deceased as soon as possible, as this is vital to solving the entire case. Report back to me immediately once you have results." Zhang Lin nodded solemnly, her eyes revealing determination and focus, and quickly turned to lead her team into the intense identification work.
Qin Chuan then dialed the command center, his voice calm and firm: "Notify all police stations in the city to immediately deploy officers to conduct a thorough search of all trash cans throughout the city. Focus on finding limbs that resemble the deceased, especially severed limbs that match the skull cuts. Each police station will be assigned a responsibility area to ensure a comprehensive and meticulous search, leaving no blind spots. During the search, be sure to keep records and report any suspicious circumstances immediately."
After hanging up the phone, Qin Chuan added to Li Ming, "Li Ming, arrange for a team of criminal investigators to accompany the various police stations, providing professional guidance and assistance. At the same time, coordinate with the technical department to utilize big data analysis to construct a model of possible body disposal routes based on the distribution of trash cans, surrounding pedestrian traffic, and the location where the head was found, providing direction for the search. Additionally, closely monitor the progress of the investigation into the five individuals whose fingerprints matched, as well as the tracking of the suspicious man in the surveillance video."
Li Ming quickly replied, "Understood, Director Qin. I'll arrange it right away." After saying that, he strode away to organize personnel to carry out the various tasks.
In the forensic laboratory, Zhang Lin and her team, dressed in professional protective suits, worked diligently in a sterile environment. Technicians carefully extracted DNA samples from the deceased's skull and placed them into a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification instrument. Zhang Lin stared intently at the flashing indicator lights on the instrument. "This identification work is quite challenging; the samples may have degraded after a certain period of exposure. But we must overcome these difficulties to ensure the accuracy of the results," she said, carefully recording the various data points.
After several hours of waiting, PCR amplification was completed. Technicians transferred the amplified DNA sample to a gene sequencer for STR locus analysis. Zhang Lin stood by, guiding the process: "Pay close attention to the peak values at each locus to ensure accurate data reading. This information will be crucial in identifying the deceased." As the gene sequencer ran, complex data appeared on the computer screen, and the team members began comparing and analyzing the data, matching it one by one with the DNA information in the database.
Meanwhile, police officers from all police stations across the city sprang into action. Wearing masks and gloves, they meticulously searched through every trash can. Ignoring the pungent odor, they emptied the trash cans one by one, carefully examining each item. Beside a trash can in an older residential area, officers Xiao Wang and Xiao Li were diligently checking every garbage bag. "We must be thorough, leaving no stone unturned," Xiao Wang said, opening a black garbage bag that emitted a foul smell, but he didn't hesitate, continuing his careful search.
In the commercial district, the police station chief personally led the team. "Everyone, pay attention! There's a lot of foot traffic and lots of trash cans here, so we must search carefully. Especially those hidden in corners, don't overlook them." The officers spread out and meticulously searched each trash can. One officer found a suspicious black plastic bag in a trash can in a secluded alley. He carefully opened it, only to find it contained some worn-out clothing, not the body parts they were looking for.
Criminal investigators accompanied the various police stations, providing professional support. They instructed officers on how to identify suspicious items and the correct handling procedures when suspected body parts were found. Near an industrial park, investigator Xiao Zhao and other officers searched trash cans together. Xiao Zhao carefully observed the surroundings and said, "This area is close to factories and has a diverse population. We need to pay special attention to clues related to industry; this might be related to metal fragments found in the deceased's clothing."
The technical staff were also working diligently. Using big data analytics and a Geographic Information System (GIS), they mapped out possible routes the body had been disposed of. Through comprehensive analysis of trash can distribution, surrounding road surveillance, and the location where the head was found, they identified several key search areas.