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

"Furthermore, his wife stated that Wang Hu did not return home last Wednesday night, and on Thursday morning he only sent a WeChat message saying 'I'm out running errands, don't worry,' and there has been no contact since. Moreover, Wang Hu has recently suffered losses on his construction projects, incurring debts of nearly 200,000 yuan, and is under financial pressure. The motive of 'murdering due to debt and then fleeing' cannot be ruled out. Additionally, we found a 'Hongtashan' cigarette butt in a corner of Zhang Hao's auto repair shop. The brand matches the cigarette butt found at the scene. Preliminary comparison shows that the fingerprints on the cigarette butt have three similarities to the fingerprints Wang Hu registered at the construction site. Further precise comparison by the technical department is needed."

After the report, a brief silence fell over the meeting room as everyone sorted through the connections between the clues. Lu Chuan broke the silence first: "Now all the clues have formed a closed loop pointing to Wang Hu's conflict with Zhang Hao over unpaid car repair fees. After Zhang Hao repeatedly urged him to pay, last Wednesday night, Wang Hu lured Zhang Hao to the vicinity of a garbage dump under the pretext of 'payment' or 'car repairs.' He then strangled Zhang Hao from behind with a strap-like object, causing his death. He wrapped the body in a black plastic bag and dumped it in the garbage dump, leaving behind traces such as cigarette butts, bracelet buttons, and plastic fragments. He then fled in his car. His height, vehicle, and occupation perfectly match the clues found at the scene."

“I agree with Captain Lu’s assessment,” Yang Lin continued. “The key right now is to find Wang Hu and his white van, as well as the strip-shaped object used in the crime. I suggest the technical department prioritize three tests: first, a precise comparison between the cigarette butt from the auto repair shop and Wang Hu’s fingerprints; second, a match between the suspected bloodstains on the plastic fragments and Zhang Hao’s DNA; and third, a material analysis of the cotton fibers at the neck injury site to determine the specific type of the strip-shaped object. These can all serve as direct evidence to pinpoint Wang Hu as the perpetrator.”

Although Wang Shuai did not report it, he participated in the discussion and offered supplementary suggestions: "We can conduct an investigation around Wang Hu's social relationships, focusing on his creditors, engineering partners, and possible hideouts. Wang Hu owes 20 yuan, so he may have borrowed money from relatives and friends or is hiding with acquaintances in other places. At the same time, we can retrieve the surveillance footage from Zhang Hao's auto repair shop to the garbage dump last Wednesday night, track the white van's route, determine the route of the body disposal, and see if we can find Wang Hu's stop along the way to obtain more evidence of the crime."

"Based on the autopsy and investigation results, the suspect showed obvious counter-surveillance awareness after committing the crime, clearing out Zhang Hao's personal belongings and leaving only his ID card at the auto repair shop. It is speculated that this was due to negligence, choosing a garbage dump with broken surveillance cameras to dispose of the body, and cutting off all contact after fleeing. However, key traces such as cigarette butts, fibers, and fingerprints were still left behind," Zhang Kai added. "It is recommended that when investigating Wang Hu's whereabouts, special attention should be paid to whether he has any external injuries. The abrasions on Zhang Hao's right palm and the skin tissue fragments under his fingernails prove that Wang Hu may have been scratched during the struggle. If corresponding marks can be found on Wang Hu's body, they can serve as important indirect evidence."

Zhang Hui suggested starting with the vehicle and the tools used in the crime: "Wang Hu's white van had a damaged left front light and an abnormal engine noise, with obvious signs of repair. We can notify all auto repair shops in the city, and report it immediately if anyone is found repairing a vehicle with these characteristics. In addition, the towel and strips of cloth used in the crime were likely discarded by Wang Hu along the route he took to dispose of the body. We can organize police forces to search both sides of the road from Zhang Hao's auto repair shop to the landfill, especially hidden areas such as green belts and abandoned houses. At the same time, we should check the surrounding garbage cans and recycling stations to prevent the suspect from destroying evidence."

After listening to everyone's analysis, Lu Chuan drew four core directions for the investigation on the whiteboard, circling the keywords "Wang Hu's whereabouts" and "vehicle tracking" in red: "The first group, led by Zhang Hui, is responsible for a thorough investigation of Wang Hu's social relationships and whereabouts, visiting his relatives, creditors, and business partners, retrieving his recent communication records, focusing on unregistered temporary mobile phone numbers, and simultaneously coordinating with train stations, bus stations, and airports to check Wang Hu's ticket purchase records. We must grasp his possible escape route within 48 hours. The second group, led by Wang Shuai, focuses on tracking the white van, retrieving surveillance footage along the route, notifying repair shops throughout the city, and checking possible hiding places for the vehicle, such as abandoned factories and suburban warehouses. At the same time, we will conduct a thorough search of both sides of the route where the body was dumped to look for the ribbon-like object used in the crime. The third group, led by Yang Lin, is responsible for following up on the progress of the technical department's testing, prioritizing the completion of the three key tests: fingerprint comparison, DNA matching, and fiber analysis, ensuring results within 24 hours. The fourth group will contact banks and third-party payment platforms to continuously monitor Wang Hu's account activity. Once there is a transaction record, we will immediately lock down his location."

He emphasized, "Wang Hu is currently the only major suspect. All our work must revolve around finding him and securing evidence. We cannot give him any breathing room to escape. In addition, we must simultaneously comfort Zhang Hao's family and keep them informed of the case's progress so that they can feel our determination to solve the case."

Sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting long, thin patches of light on the conference table. Zhang Hui posted Wang Hu's photo and vehicle information on the whiteboard. The photo showed Wang Hu wearing a black jacket, his eyes sharp, a perfect match to Li Mei's description of the "man in the black jacket." "We will verify the fingerprint and DNA comparison results as soon as possible. Once confirmed, we will immediately apply for an arrest warrant and do everything in our power to apprehend Wang Hu," Zhang Hui said firmly, and everyone present nodded in agreement.

As the meeting adjourned, Lu Chuan watched the departing figures, picked up the autopsy report and crime scene investigation records on the table, and circled key details such as "cotton fibers," "cement dust," and "cigarette butt teeth marks" in red pen. These seemingly minor traces could very well be the key to ultimately identifying Wang Hu. He took out his phone and sent a message to the head of the technical department: "All tests related to Wang Hu must be expedited, especially fingerprints and DNA. These are crucial to breaking through the case. Notify me of the results immediately."

Footsteps echoed through the corridors of the Criminal Investigation Division, each person carrying a clear goal: to "capture Wang Hu and uncover the truth." Although Wang Hu is still at large, with the progress of various investigations and tests, the crimes hidden behind the garbage dump will soon be exposed in the closed loop of the evidence chain, and Zhang Hao's spirit in heaven will finally receive the justice that is long overdue.

After the case analysis meeting, each group immediately began operations according to the plan. Zhang Hui led the first group to focus on sorting out Wang Hu's family and interpersonal relationships. The team members sat in the temporary office and spread out a social relationship diagram of Wang Hu on the entire table, marking the degree of connection and recent contact information for each person, from immediate family members to distant relatives, business partners, and creditors.

"Among Wang Hu's immediate family members, his parents passed away early, and his wife lives with their child at her parents' home. The two have a strained relationship and have not been in contact since last Wednesday." (End of Chapter)