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

"What are the difficulties?" Lu Chuan frowned slightly. Yang Lin replied, "First, the victim's identity has not yet been confirmed. No identification items were found on the body, the clothing was ordinary and unremarkable, and residents in the surrounding area could not identify the victim, which brings great difficulties to the investigation. Second, although multiple fingerprints, footprints, and tire tracks were collected at the scene, it is currently impossible to determine whether these traces are directly related to the suspect, and further examination and comparison by the technical department is needed. Third, the crime scene is located in an old community with extremely low surveillance coverage. There are no surveillance cameras behind Building 3 and in the surrounding area, making it impossible to track the whereabouts of the suspect and the victim. Fourth, the drainage ditch environment is complex, and water erosion and weed cover may have destroyed some traces and physical evidence, increasing the difficulty of subsequent examination and analysis."

Yang Sen added, "Judging from the traces at the scene, the suspect had a certain level of counter-surveillance awareness, did not leave a large number of obvious traces in the core area, and chose to commit the crime in a blind spot of the surveillance cameras, which indicates that he may have been quite familiar with the environment of the Jianshe Road community. However, the fingerprints, footprints, tire tracks, fiber fragments and other trace evidence collected at the scene still have high investigative value. As long as the technical department can successfully compare and analyze them, it can provide important directions for solving the case."

After hearing the report, Lu Chuan immediately made arrangements: "First, the technical department should immediately conduct a comprehensive examination of the extracted trace evidence, focusing on comparing fingerprint features, footprint patterns, tire track types, fiber composition, and trace substance composition to try to obtain key information about the suspect; Second, arrange for investigators to verify the identity of the deceased by retrieving information on missing persons, comparing fingerprint databases, and interviewing community residents and surrounding businesses to determine the deceased's identity as soon as possible; Third, expand the scope of the investigation, focusing on questioning the complainant Li Yajuan, the community cleaner, and residents of Building 3 to find out if any suspicious persons entered or exited the area behind Building 3 before or after the incident, whether they saw anyone matching the deceased's characteristics, or heard any unusual sounds; Fourth, investigate the owners of electric tricycles and small trucks around the community, compare tire tracks, and look for vehicles that match the tire tracks at the scene."

The deceased's body was subsequently transferred to the Forensic Identification Center of the Criminal Investigation Detachment, awaiting an autopsy to determine the cause and time of death. The scene remained cordoned off, and technical staff were conducting a final check to ensure no trace or physical evidence was overlooked. Lu Chuan stood on the cement path of Jianshe Road community, gazing at the drainage ditch before him, his eyes resolute. Although the case investigation faced numerous difficulties, he firmly believed that by focusing on the scene and relying on physical evidence, they would find a breakthrough amidst the complex clues and bring the suspect to justice.

The afternoon sun filtered through the branches of the plane trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The investigation team had already begun their door-to-door search, knocking on the doors of residents in Building 3 one by one, patiently inquiring about relevant information. Meanwhile, the technical staff returned to their unit with the collected trace evidence and immediately began the intensive examination work. Yang Lin and Yang Sen, though exhausted, were still organizing the investigation records, ensuring every detail was accurate. They knew that solving this case required meticulous attention to detail at every stage, and that every piece of trace evidence could be the key to uncovering the truth.

The complainant, Li Yajuan, was questioned at the community police station. She recalled, "I start cleaning the community every morning at 9:00. Today, I cleaned around Building 1 and Building 2 first. Around 9:20, I came to the drainage ditch behind Building 3. I had just cut a few weeds with a sickle when I saw something floating in the water. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a person. I was so scared that I immediately threw away the sickle and called the police. When I cleaned this area yesterday, I didn't find any body. It must have been thrown in between last night and this morning."

Li Yajuan's testimony provided preliminary evidence for estimating the time of death. The investigators were even more determined and intensified their investigations, focusing on the period from "last night to this morning." Residents in the community also actively cooperated, recalling any unusual circumstances before and after the incident. Although no substantial progress has been made yet, the investigators are not discouraged. They firmly believe that as long as they persevere, they will find valuable clues and bring the truth to light.

As evening fell and the sun set, the Jianshe Road community gradually returned to calm, but the work of the Criminal Investigation Detachment was just entering its most intensive phase. The technical department was conducting its examinations, and team members were still busy with door-to-door inquiries and investigations in the community and surrounding areas. Lu Chuan convened a case analysis meeting in the detachment's conference room, reviewing the current investigation results and leads gathered from interviews, and adjusting subsequent investigative strategies. He emphasized that this case, occurring in a residential community, directly impacted residents' sense of security and must be solved as soon as possible to restore a peaceful living environment for the residents.

As night deepened, the lights of the Criminal Investigation Division remained bright. Yang Lin and Yang Sen were still finalizing the investigation report, meticulously recording the extraction process and characteristic details of each piece of trace evidence; the technical staff were repeatedly examining samples in the laboratory, trying to find a breakthrough from trace substances; the investigators returned to the division with their interview records, sorting through and filtering clues one by one. Although the road to solving the case was fraught with difficulties, everyone was filled with determination, vowing to bring the suspect to justice and give the deceased justice.

At 1:30 p.m., the transport vehicle carrying the deceased's body smoothly entered the Forensic Identification Center of the Municipal Criminal Investigation Detachment. Forensic doctor Zhang Kai was already waiting in front of the autopsy building, dressed in a dark blue forensic uniform, wearing a medical mask and cap, with a serious expression. His assistant, Xiao Lin, followed closely behind, pushing a trolley loaded with autopsy instruments. The trolley was neatly arranged with dozens of professional instruments, including scalpels, tissue scissors, bone saws, forceps, measuring cups, specimen bottles, and electronic scales, as well as autopsy table straps for securing the body.

"Was the body transport smooth? Were there any additional traces added at the scene?" Zhang Kai asked the accompanying reconnaissance team while assisting the transport personnel in lifting the body onto the autopsy table. "The transport was smooth throughout, the body was not displaced, and apart from the mud and weeds attached to the scene, there were no additional traces," the reconnaissance team member replied. Zhang Kai nodded, signaling Xiao Lin to begin the preparatory work for the autopsy: "First, establish an autopsy file, record basic information, then conduct a preliminary external examination of the body, being careful to preserve any trace substances attached to the scene for later testing."

Xiaolin immediately took out the autopsy record book and filled in the "Autopsy Number," "Submitting Unit," and "Submission Time" columns one by one. He then pushed the electronic scale next to the autopsy table and weighed the body. (End of Chapter)