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

He then looked at the detectives present and said, “Based on Zhang Kai’s autopsy report, we have adjusted our investigation strategy: First, we will focus on investigating missing men aged 34 to 36 who work in heavy metal-related industries such as metallurgy, electroplating, and waste recycling throughout the city, comparing their dental and physical characteristics one by one to determine the identity of the deceased as soon as possible; Second, we will expand the scope of surveillance and investigation in and around the logistics park, focusing on tracking the movements of people and vehicles that match the suspect’s characteristics, based on the time of the crime, which was between 8 pm and 10 pm three days before the incident; Third, we will conduct a city-wide investigation based on the characteristics of a single-edged sharp weapon, a wool-polyester blended coat, and size 42 plaid leather shoes, focusing on hardware stores, clothing markets, labor protection product stores, and employees in related industries; Fourth, we will continue to expand the scope of our visits, focusing on the area around the logistics park and areas with a high concentration of heavy metal-related industries, investigating suspicious persons and abnormal situations.”

"Understood!" the investigators present responded in unison. Although the autopsy did not yield any breakthrough clues and the investigation still faced many difficulties, the direction of the investigation became clearer as the basic characteristics of the deceased, the time of death, and the modus operandi became clearer, laying a solid foundation for subsequent work.

After leaving the conference room, Zhang Kai did not return to the forensic identification center, but went straight to the technical department to check on the progress of sample testing. At that moment, Yang Sen was with the technical staff, further analyzing fiber samples extracted from the deceased's fingernails and hair. Seeing Zhang Kai enter, he quickly went to greet him: "Professor Zhang, how's the autopsy report? Any new findings?"

Zhang Kai shook his head: "There have been no breakthrough discoveries. The identity of the deceased cannot be confirmed, and no direct clues pointing to the suspect have been found. We can only improve some basic information. Have you made any progress in the fiber sample analysis?"

“We conducted a more detailed compositional analysis of the fiber samples, confirming that it was a wool and polyester blend in a ratio of approximately 6:4. The dyeing process was ordinary, and it is a common fiber used in mid-to-low-end winter coats. Many work jackets and ordinary cotton coats on the market use this material, so the scope of our investigation is quite broad,” Yang Sen said. “In addition, the dust sample extracted from the deceased’s fingernails was consistent with the composition of the dust on the ground at the scene, and no other special substances were found. The quantitative analysis results of the lead and mercury concentrations in the hair are in, with a lead concentration of 0.35 mg/kg and a mercury concentration of 0.08 mg/kg, far exceeding the normal human body concentration, further confirming that the deceased had been exposed to heavy metals for a long time.”

"What about the comparison of dental features and DNA database?" Zhang Kai asked.

"It's in progress. There are 12 people in the national missing persons database who match the deceased's physical characteristics, age range, and occupation. We are comparing them one by one with dental X-rays and DNA samples, and we expect to have the results by tomorrow morning," the technical staff added.

Zhang Kai nodded: "Okay, notify me and Captain Lu immediately of any results. Also, the toxicology and histopathological examinations need to be expedited; we can't let them delay the investigation." He then gave Xiao Lin a few more instructions, telling him to properly safeguard the autopsy samples and related materials, before driving away from the Criminal Investigation Division.

As night deepened and the city's daytime hustle and bustle subsided, the Criminal Investigation Division's office building remained brightly lit. Yang Lin was still meticulously reviewing video footage frame by frame in the monitoring room, trying to find more features of the suspect from the blurry images; Yang Sen was repeatedly analyzing physical evidence samples in the technical department, hoping to find clues from the smallest details; Lu Chuan was in his office organizing his investigative ideas and adjusting his investigation strategies; and Zhang Kai, after returning home, was still reviewing autopsy records and related materials, repeatedly pondering whether any details had been overlooked during the autopsies.

Although the investigation is currently at a bottleneck, with the deceased's identity unknown and the suspect's whereabouts elusive, none of the personnel involved in the case have lost heart. They deeply understand that forensic autopsy, crime scene investigation, technical examination, and interviews are all crucial steps in solving the case, and every detail could be a breakthrough. By maintaining a rigorous and meticulous work attitude, making full use of existing clues, and advancing step by step, they are certain they will be able to identify the suspect, confirm the deceased's identity, solve the case, and bring peace to the deceased's soul.

The following morning, Zhang Kai rushed to the forensic identification center to review the preliminary results of the toxicology and histopathological examinations. The toxicology report showed no toxic or harmful substances detected in the deceased's blood, liver, or gastric mucosa samples, ruling out poisoning as the cause of death. The histopathological examination results were consistent with the autopsy findings; significant bleeding was observed in the muscle and blood vessel tissue around the neck wound, consistent with hemorrhagic shock, but no other abnormal lesions were found. Meanwhile, the results of the missing persons database comparison were also available. Among the 12 suspected individuals, 3 had similar dental characteristics and DNA samples to the deceased, but none were a complete match, requiring further verification of their identities.

Zhang Kai immediately compiled the relevant results into a booklet and reported it to Lu Chuan. Lu Chuan promptly arranged for an investigation team to conduct a special investigation into the three suspected individuals, verifying their recent activities, social relationships, and whether they had gone missing. Although the investigation had not yet made a breakthrough, with the gradual improvement of the test results and the accumulation of clues, they were getting closer and closer to the truth. Zhang Kai, like all the investigators, firmly believed that as long as they persevered, they would definitely overcome the difficulties and solve this case of an unidentified male corpse.

While Zhang Kai followed up on the subsequent sample testing, and Yang Lin and Yang Sen delved into the analysis of physical evidence, investigator Wang Shuai, following Lu Chuan's instructions, led three team members to the area surrounding the Oriental Logistics Park to conduct a comprehensive door-to-door investigation and surveillance review. Wang Shuai, with eight years of experience in criminal investigation, is skilled at communicating with the public and has extensive experience in investigating suburban and rural areas. Entrusted with this important task, his core objective was to identify clues about the missing person through on-site visits, while simultaneously reviewing surrounding surveillance footage to fill gaps in existing leads and find new breakthroughs in the case.

The Dongfang Logistics Park is located in the northeastern suburban area of ​​the city, surrounded by five natural villages: Lijiazhuang, Wangjia'ao, Xihe Village, Beipo Village, and Nangou Village. The villages are approximately 1 to 2 kilometers apart. Most villagers are engaged in farming or odd jobs, with some working casually in the logistics park and surrounding small processing plants. The population mobility is relatively complex. At 2 PM, Wang Shuai and his group arrived at the entrance of Lijiazhuang Village. It was just after the villagers' lunch break, and some farmers had already begun working in the fields. Several elderly people were gathered at the small shop at the village entrance, chatting and enjoying the cool air, making it a natural hub for village information. (End of Chapter)