The real life of an American police officer: Winning over others with virtue

Chapter 323 Profile
At the same time, the voice that accompanied White's voice was the system's trigger task.

[Trigger Task]
[Solving the Mother-Son Case]
[Completion Reward: +0.5]
[]
Eric sighed inwardly, shifting his gaze to the words 'Methodist Church Sunday School' on the document.

The Methodist Church is a major Protestant denomination that emphasizes social service, evangelism, and personal religious piety. It is considered a relatively traditional and community-oriented church.

Sunday schools are not schools in the ordinary sense, but religious education courses offered by Christian churches on Sundays for children and new believers, teaching Bible stories, Christian doctrines, and hymns.

"Even if they were kicked out, would they still allow their son to receive religious education?" Eric narrowed his eyes slightly.

"And the fact that she insisted on going there to serve herself shows the inner conflict and struggle of Lindsay Walsh."

On the one hand, she was hurt by the beliefs of her family of origin; on the other hand, she tried to seek redemption, belonging, and dignity for herself and her son within a new faith community.

Eric glanced at the photos and frowned; the religious elements were too prominent.

"This is all the information we have for the case at the moment," Costa's voice rang out in the somber conference room. He leaned back slightly, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, lingering particularly long on Eric, who was looking at the documents.

What are your thoughts and ideas?

After sitting back down in her seat, Joyna said, "I think the most urgent thing is to take a two-pronged approach. First, the DNA of the semen stain is our most direct breakthrough point. We need to speed up the comparison process, and at the same time, we need to have contingency plans in place for cases where no match can be found in the database."

Secondly, the cleaning of the scene would inevitably leave traces. What cleaning agent did the perpetrator use? A rag? Is it possible that the protective equipment he disposed of, such as gloves and shoe covers, was discarded in a nearby trash can or sewer?

I believe it is necessary to expand the forensic department's search area to include the apartment building's common garbage dump and surrounding area.

Costa and the others nodded; this was a standard direction for the investigation.

"In that case, Joyna, you and Eric will lead the evidence chain together, and as you said, prioritize processing the semen DNA."

At the same time, I need you to personally lead the team and coordinate with the patrol police and forensic department to conduct a comprehensive search of all possible locations where items might have been discarded within a 500-meter radius of the apartment building where the incident occurred, with a focus on garbage cans, abandoned alleyways, and sewer openings.

The killer will likely have left something nearby.

Joyna glanced subconsciously at Eric, who had looked up because of those words, and knew that Costa was trying to tie Eric to her side and form a partnership.

Eric noticed Joyna's gaze and nodded. He was a rookie trainee detective on his first day on the job and had no say in this situation, so he just followed the organization's arrangements.

"Yes! Sir!"

Costa nodded in satisfaction and then indicated that they should continue.

White said, "My thinking is very simple: the murderer who could support the theory of peaceful entry is either someone I know or someone I've met before."

So I wanted to explore Lindsay's network of relationships, especially the Methodist church and Lindsay's family of origin.

Although they said they were severing ties, I didn't completely believe them. I felt I needed to exert more pressure to investigate whether there were any hidden conflicts, or if anyone had gone to extremes because they felt Lindsay had tarnished the family's reputation.

Costa pondered for a moment: "OK! White, you take charge of the network, and I'll give you more manpower, divided into two groups."

A team will delve into all relevant personnel within the church, according to your ideas, including but not limited to clergy, long-term believers, and even those who have recently received charitable assistance from the church.

Another group meticulously re-examined Lindsay's daily life, examining the restaurants she worked at, the supermarkets she frequented, and the teachers at her son's school to identify anyone in her life who might have contributed to her distorted obsessions.

As for her family of origin, Costa paused for a moment:
"I'll go and talk to them myself."

At this point, he continued to make arrangements: "Peña, you will continue to coordinate and be in charge of the intelligence hub."

Pay close attention to any recent police reports or minor offenses related to religious fanaticism or moral fastidiousness.

Meanwhile, all information from White and Joyner's group will be aggregated and cross-referenced in real time by you. I need to see a dynamically updated clue relationship diagram.

Costa quickly assigned the tasks, and Eric raised an eyebrow. After this round, he had figured out the team's composition and the detectives' standard investigative methods.

“Eric, even though you’re new, you can still share your ideas,” Costa suddenly said, and everyone’s eyes turned to Eric.

“Uh,” Eric glanced at the document subconsciously and shook his head.

"I don't have any ideas for now, Captain, but may I take this case file back to take a look?"

Although he did have some ideas, he still needed to study them carefully.

Costa nodded and said, "Of course, feel free to share any ideas you have." He then clapped his hands.

"The meeting is dismissed!"

----------

eight pm.

A sharply styled Ford Raptor entered the garage, its low growl echoing briefly in the enclosed space before fading into silence.

Eric got out of the driver's seat with a stack of case files, closed the door, and walked into the house.

Although the meeting set the direction and everyone had a clear task, the numerous and complex issues at the beginning of the investigation were clearly not something that could be sorted out in a short time.

Therefore, this newcomer, who had only been working for one day, was released by Joyna after completing the initial information synchronization and meetings, on the grounds that he needed to maintain his condition because there would be a tough battle the next day.

In White's words, he was very unlucky as a newcomer, encountering a case on his very first day.

Eric's lips twitched; his bad luck hadn't just started overnight.

Enter the house.

Brightly lit, in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the police station, this place was almost absolutely quiet.

The spacious living room, decorated in a modern minimalist style, lacks a sense of life and resembles a beautifully designed refuge.

The renovation of his house was mostly completed long ago, with only a few minor details needing to be tidied up.

"Never mind, let's pray first." Eric casually tossed the case file onto the slab island in the living room, looked into a corner of the room, and went inside.

Looking at the image of Guanyin Bodhisattva above, I lit incense, inserted it into the small incense burner in front of the image, closed my eyes, put my palms together, and silently prayed, "Guanyin Bodhisattva, please protect me."

After finishing this step, Eric habitually took a shower to wash away the smell of the day, then sent Tifa a picture of his workstation and a selfie taken that day, along with the caption "Hellish start," before starting to prepare dinner for the evening.

It was still Chinese food: mapo tofu, braised chicken wings, and spicy stir-fried beef with potatoes.

Spicy and fragrant steam filled the air, and the phone lying to the side beeped with a notification—a video call request from Tifa.

Eric wiped his hands and answered the call.

"Honey."

On the screen, Tifa was wearing loungewear, her wet hair piled on top of her head, clearly having just finished washing up.

She blinked as she watched the food bubbling on the stove behind Eric.

"Looks like the stress response to starting in hell is an unusually strong appetite? Let me guess... It must be because he's working overtime. Did he encounter a case on his first day at work?"

Eric turned the camera to the bubbling Mapo Tofu, the red oil glistening enticingly under the light.

"I need some strong flavors to calm my mood right now, but unfortunately someone can't have them."

"Cruel!" Tifa made a pained expression, then suppressed her laughter and softened her voice.

"So, what kind of case is it? I'd be happy to be your confidant."

The clanging of the spatula against the wok paused briefly. Eric turned down the heat, put the lid on, and leaned against the counter, saying, "Aren't you busy right now?"

Tifa smiled and said, "No rush."

Eric's expression softened unconsciously: "Okay, I'll send it to you in a bit. Take a look first, and then we can discuss it together."

With such a great talent by his side, he naturally wouldn't let him go.

Moreover, psychological criminal profiling differs from conventional investigative methods based on physical evidence identification and interviews.

It is more suitable for a murderer who is difficult to fathom using common sense.

Because criminal profiling involves understanding motives, predicting behavior, narrowing down the range of suspects, and answering the question of what kind of person the perpetrator is.

Tifa said, "Okay."

Upon hearing this, Eric took pictures of the case file and sent them all to Tifa.

As for the confidentiality regulations, they do not apply to Tifa.

"Honey, I received it. Let me take a look."

Upon hearing Tifa's reply, Eric began to put the finishing touches on the case while she was reviewing the files.

Soon, a variety of delicious dishes were laid out on the table. The spicy tofu, soaked in red oil, was steaming hot; the braised chicken wings, with their thick sauce, were glistening and tempting; and the spicy potato and beef stir-fry was even more mouthwatering.

Eric sat down and began to eat, eating quickly and efficiently.

As he finished the last chicken wing and picked up his water glass, Tifa on the other end of the screen also looked up from another tablet, her expression much more serious than before, her eyes flashing with the light of analysis.

"Finished reading?" Eric put down his cup and took a tissue to wipe his mouth.

"Isn't it somewhat similar to your previous case in Boston?"

“Hmm,” Tifa said.

"But this case is different from that case; it may be more typical and more pathological."

This was a premeditated crime, so the killer was well-prepared, and the victim may have been observed by the killer for a long time.

The condition that the killer targeted was likely the victim's religious background.

Eric nodded in agreement, picked up the case file beside him, opened it, and looked at the diagram showing the location of the body at the scene:
“I also suspect there are religious elements involved.”

At this point, Eric happened to see the photos from the scene, and his voice lowered slightly.

"Based on my understanding of the scene's layout, it's highly likely that the perpetrator forced the boy to witness his mother's ordeal before abusing the victim, Lindsay."

Tifa sensed the change in Eric's tone and her expression darkened. She followed Eric's train of thought.

"In the Gospel of Mark, the core of the Son of Man represents the Messiah's redemption, the authority to forgive sins, and the ultimate sacrifice."

Forcing children to witness their loved ones suffer extreme violence is far more than just sadistic cruelty; it is a form of ritualistic humiliation and psychological castration.

The killer's core motive most likely stemmed from an extremely distorted moral obsession or religious fanaticism.

As Tifa spoke, she looked at the tablet in her hand, her gaze lingering on a photo of the scene—the semen stains on the pillow.

“Honey, although in this situation we would usually assume the killer has a sexual dysfunction, I suspect this killer does not actually have a sexual dysfunction.”

On the contrary, he has normal physiological functions, and he leaves semen on the pillow, just like a judge stamping a judgment.

It was the final confirmation ceremony for him to complete the trial and execute the purification.

Eric raised an eyebrow and said, "You mean, the murderer put himself in the position of the judge?"

Tifa nodded and said, "At least the primary motivation wasn't sexual desire. It was power-driven sex, part of his demonstration of absolute control and the exercise of his judicial power."

The simultaneous insertion of the rough wooden handle into the rectum also suggests that the perpetrator had a pathological desire to dominate the victim.

“The power of judgment plus the desire for control and domination” Eric instinctively stroked his chin, some ideas already forming in his mind.

“This Methodist church may have played some important role in this case; the killer likely has religious ties,” Tifa said.

"Is there a high probability that he is a clergyman?" Eric asked.

Tifa nodded.

"That's why he was able to enter the scene peacefully."

The fact that no one in the neighborhood, including the landlord, noticed anything unusual, and that the victim was not discovered until four days after her death, suggests that the perpetrator was very familiar with the community environment and the church's schedule, and knew all the information about the victim.

Even after committing the crime, it didn't arouse any suspicion from the neighbors.

Eric narrowed his eyes slightly and replied.

"In this way, the probability that the murderer is a clergyman is indeed higher. After all, the person most suitable to be a listener in a church is definitely a clergyman."

Furthermore, because of his background, his entry and exit from the community would not arouse suspicion.

“Yes,” Tifa said.

"He is physically strong enough to easily subdue two victims, mentally mature enough to plan complex cleanup operations, and is probably between 30 and 45 years old."

"A precise stab wound that avoids immediately fatal areas; likely possesses anatomical knowledge; and has worked in the medical, cleaning, security, or laboratory fields."

Hearing Tifa begin profiling, Eric sighed with emotion; a three-dimensional portrait of a murderer had already been drawn.

With a strong religious background, he is most likely a clergy member within the church.

Applicants must be between 30 and 45 years old, possess anatomical knowledge, and have previously worked in medicine, cleaning, security, or laboratories before becoming clergy.

It has normal physiological functions.

“I’m wondering if the wooden handle on the victim’s body is the same broom the victim used to sweep the church steps,” Tifa’s voice continued.

Eric followed her words, glanced at the photos from the scene, and nodded:

"The scope has been narrowed down considerably. I will keep an eye on this tomorrow. If the source of the murder weapon is confirmed, it will greatly strengthen the profile of the ritual purification and more firmly pinpoint the suspects to the interior of the church."

As he spoke, Eric looked at Tifa on the screen, who was still immersed in analysis and exuding professional charm, and teased her.

"But to be honest, you are really charming right now, ten times more charming than usual."

Tifa on the other end of the screen was clearly taken aback, pulled out of her highly focused state of thought, and the serious expression on her face instantly melted away.

She put on a stern face and said seriously, "Don't interrupt Agent Stevens. He's getting to a crucial point in his analysis. Be serious!"

But the slight upturn of her lips and the fleeting smile in her eyes betrayed her true feelings.

Eric readily raised his hands in surrender, a smile playing on his lips.

"Okay, okay, my mistake! Analyst Tifa, please continue with your instructions; I promise I'll listen carefully."

(End of this chapter)