Attending ex-girlfriend's wedding, arresting the groom's officer on the spot

Other details about the body also provided clues to the case. Zhang Kai found a small amount of brown soil on the palm of the body's right hand: "The soil composition is consistent with the soil found on the work pants during the initial on-site investigation. It contains a lot of sand and humus, which is not a common type of soil in the city." He put the soil sample into an evidence bag, "This indicates that the deceased had been in contact with this type of soil before his death. It may be the suspect's hiding place or the primary crime scene. The laboratory needs to test the soil composition to determine its origin." He added, "The nail of the body's right ring finger was broken, and there was fresh bleeding at the break. A small amount of black fiber was also extracted from the nail crevices, which is consistent with the composition of black plastic fiber found in the garbage at the transfer station. It is speculated that this was caused by scratching the garbage or the ground during the struggle."

To further confirm the time of death, Zhang Kai tested the blood biochemical indicators of the body: "The potassium ion concentration in the blood is 15 mmol/L and the sodium ion concentration is 132 mmol/L." He compared the values ​​with the standard values, "After death, the blood potassium ion concentration will gradually increase over time, increasing by about 2 mmol/L every 10 hours. Based on the current values, the time of death can be calculated to be about 13 hours, which is completely consistent with the previous judgment, that is, around 8 pm on August 15th."

As the autopsy neared its end, Zhang Kai summarized all the findings: "The deceased was male, aged 45-50. He suffered blunt force trauma to the neck (causing subcutaneous hemorrhage) and chest (leading to pulmonary contusion), resulting in respiratory failure and death. The time of death was around 8 PM on August 15th. His wrists were bound with a yellow plastic rope, showing obvious signs of struggle. Damage to the oral mucosa and gums indicated that he had been gagged and controlled. After death, the suspect transported the body to the Heping Road garbage transfer station in a black SUV and disposed of it. During the transport, the body rubbed against a compression box, causing the jacket to tear and become stained with metal fragments. The evidence, including brown soil and black fibers on the body, points to a fixed primary crime scene and a direct connection to the black SUV."

“These conclusions correspond perfectly with the clues from the initial on-site investigation,” Xiao Lin said, organizing the autopsy report. “The yellow plastic rope, the brown soil, the black SUV, and the suspect’s height range (178-183 cm) all connect.” Zhang Kai nodded and handed the autopsy report to the technical department: “We need to expedite the testing of the yellow fibers at the wrist binding marks, the black fibers under the fingernails, and the specific composition of the brown soil. These could all be key evidence in identifying the suspect. In addition, the food residue in the stomach contents also needs to be tested to see if there are any unusual components that could help determine the area where the deceased was active before death.”

As the body was covered again with a white sheet and wheeled out of the autopsy room, Zhang Kai removed his gas mask, the smell of disinfectant lingering on his face. Looking out at the darkening sky, he recalled the body curled up beside the garbage at the transfer station. He knew that this autopsy report not only determined the cause and time of death but also provided a clear direction for the investigation—by following the three clues of "the source of the brown soil," "the origin of the yellow plastic rope," and "the trajectory of the black SUV," they would eventually find the murderer and bring him justice.

When Xiao Lin handed the autopsy report to Lu Chuan, Lu Chuan was reviewing the surveillance footage submitted by Wang Shuai. "The time and cause of death are clear," Lu Chuan said, his finger tracing the report. "Now the chain of evidence is becoming increasingly clear. Next, we need to focus our investigation on the 'source of the brown soil' and the 'black SUV,' while simultaneously accelerating the identification of the deceased." He gave orders into the walkie-talkie: "The technical department should prioritize testing the fiber and soil samples extracted from the body. Zhang Hui, lead a team to visit local restaurants around Heping Road to find witnesses who may have seen the deceased. Wang Shuai, continue to expand the search area for the black SUV; we must find a breakthrough as quickly as possible."

As night deepened, the lights in the Criminal Investigation Division remained bright. Zhang Kai's autopsy report was like a key, unlocking the crucial door to solving the case. Everyone knew that every step from now on would revolve around this report, using scientific evidence to bring the murderer to justice and comfort the soul of the deceased. Sitting in his office, Zhang Kai looked at the soil samples on his desk, silently resolving: he must use these subtle traces to reconstruct the truth of the case and ensure that this tragedy at the garbage transfer station receives a just trial.

The lights in the Criminal Investigation Detachment's information verification room stayed on all night. The cold light from the computer screens reflected on Zhang Hui and his team members' faces, their eyes bloodshot. The takeout boxes on the table had long since gone cold, and coffee cans piled up like a small mountain. The sounds of keyboard typing and mouse clicking mingled in the quiet room, creating a monotonous yet tense rhythm—they had been working continuously for eight hours, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. They had already verified over a thousand missing persons records, yet still hadn't found a clue matching the male corpse at the Heping Road garbage transfer station.

"How many times have we checked this? Over a thousand records, my eyes are almost blinded, and we still have no clue." Team member Xiao Li rubbed his sore eyes, repeatedly clicking on the filter box for "missing males aged 45-50," his tone clearly complaining. "The deceased didn't even have an ID card, all we know is his age, height, and what he was wearing. What's the difference between this and looking for a needle in a haystack?"

Teammate Xiao Wang chimed in, "That's right. In the missing persons information, there are over two hundred men aged 45-50, around 175cm tall, and their descriptions are all similar—either 'ran away from home' or 'missing for several days.' It's impossible to make an accurate match." He pointed to a piece of information on the screen, "Look at this one: missing person Li Qiang, 48 years old, 176cm tall, wearing a gray jacket. He looks a bit like the deceased, but he went missing three months ago. His family said he has a history of mental illness, so it's unlikely he's the person we're looking for."

Zhang Hui put down the verification record sheet in his hand, rubbed his temples, and said in a tired but firm voice, "Everyone, hang in there. If the identity of the deceased is uncertain, the subsequent investigation cannot proceed. We cannot give up any possible clues." He walked to Xiao Li's side and pointed to the screen, "Let's refine the screening criteria again. Focus on men aged 45-50 who have gone missing in the past week, especially those who went missing in the vicinity of Heping Road, particularly those engaged in manual labor or occupations that require long-term travel. The deceased's leather shoes were severely worn, so he was likely someone who walked or drove frequently."

After readjusting the filtering criteria, the number of information entries was reduced from over two hundred to just over fifty. The team members rallied and meticulously checked each piece of information. Time passed slowly, and at 3 a.m., the complaints in the verification room gradually subsided, leaving only the sound of keyboards and occasional discussions. (End of Chapter)