Forensic Doctor 2003: I Became a Legend on the Front Lines of Criminal Investigation

In 2003, technology was underdeveloped, and surveillance coverage was limited. Even when surveillance cameras were present at some intersections, the quality of the footage was often blurry.

DNA testing technology is only available at the provincial level, and the detection of exfoliated cells is still in the research and development stage.

Forensic experts play a crucial role in cases involving death.

When faced with a corpse, the first responsibility of a forensic doctor is to determine whether it is a criminal case, that is, homicide.

Once a homicide is determined, the forensic pathologist will need to conduct an analysis of the cause of death, identify the weapon used to cause the injury, and characterize the perpetrator's features in subsequent work.

A saying that circulated in that era was that third-rate forensic doctors solve the problem of the cause of death, second-rate forensic doctors solve the problem of the murder process at the scene, and first-rate forensic doctors solve the problem of the killer's characteristics.

Jiang Chen put on his gloves, got up, and went to the body to examine it closely.

Perhaps due to the forensic autopsy system within his body, he now looked at the corpse with a much more professional and scrutinizing gaze.

Are you nervous?

"Is this a question?" asked Wang Hui, the photographer holding a camera nearby.

Jiang Chen said, "Don't be nervous! Was the deceased's original condition recorded?"

Wang Hui nodded, "Take photos to document the condition of the body and all surrounding items."

This is the first step in the on-site investigation. Only after the forensic pathologists have finished taking photos can the forensic pathologists move the body.

The purpose of doing this is to record what the original crime scene looked like.

If this case cannot be solved immediately, future generations can continue to study it.

Following that, Jiang Chen began the examination in the order of the forensic autopsy examination.

The first thing to examine was the deceased's clothing. The deceased was only wearing red underwear, and there wasn't much else to examine.

Jiang Chen glanced at it but didn't pay much attention.

Suddenly, he noticed that the damp spot on the crotch of the deceased's underwear was not on the front, but on the buttocks.

has a problem!

This morning, while he was reading in the forensic office, he clearly remembered that the human body...

There is a process of muscle relaxation after death.

In other words, the body becomes limp!

During the process of muscle relaxation, the muscles of the anus and urethra will also relax.

Relaxation of the urethral muscles causes urine to leak out of the bladder.

If the anal muscles are relaxed, stool may leak out if there is stool in the rectum.

At this moment, Jiang Chen was thinking that if the deceased suffocated because he was sleeping face down and the vomit blocked his airway, then the position in which he died should be face down.

As he pondered, he began to visualize the scene in his mind.

When the deceased died while lying face down, the death occurred at the instant of death. The urethral muscles relaxed, and urine flowed out, likely from the front of the underwear.

Why are urine stains on the back?

This is very problematic!

Given the unusual lividity just now, Jiang Chen was ninety percent certain that he had not died of suffocation.

Just as Jiang Chen was deep in thought, Li Jian walked over and asked, "Should I call a forensic doctor from the Municipal Public Security Bureau?"

Clearly, Li Jian suspected that Jiang Chen, being present at the scene for the first time, harbored resentment towards the body.

No wonder!

Forensic doctors, also known as coroners in ancient times, were poorly paid, had low social status, and had no career advancement opportunities.

It can be said.

Jiang Chen turned his head and looked at him confidently. "No need!"

Li Jian earnestly reminded him, "You've just started working, so you might not be very familiar with the work of our criminal investigation team."

"If we do not find any obvious external injuries on the surface of the body and rule out homicide, we will hand the body over to the family for disposal."

At this point, he turned and glanced at the corpse. "It's heartbreaking for the family to see their child bury their parents. Let's be more efficient and finish this sooner."

Of course, Li Jian wasn't trying to shirk responsibility.

In those days, the work of a forensic doctor was to examine whether a body had been murdered.

If there is a possibility of homicide, the criminal investigation team will immediately open a case for investigation.

If there is no possibility of homicide, the body is usually handed over to the family for disposal, followed by a feast for the whole village and burial.

It's important to understand that people were quite opposed to cremation back then.

The idea of ​​returning to one's roots after death and having one's body intact are the most basic beliefs of the Chinese people.

Of course, there probably wasn't any business of buying and selling corpses and organs back then.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen replied, "Okay!"

He was about to point out two contradictions in the examination of the body, but then he remembered that this was his first time examining a corpse, and he needed to make a good impression on his superiors.

Jiang Chen continued to examine the surface of the body.

He reached out and touched the deceased's head. There was no obvious hair loss, no fracture of the skull, and no signs of strangulation on the lips or neck, indicating that the person had not been strangled.

Next, Jiang Chen's gaze shifted to the deceased's chest and abdomen, where large areas of livor mortis were visible, with skin folds formed by the pressure of the sheet in some areas.

"Brother Wang, please take a picture from this spot!"

Wang Hui looked puzzled. "I've already taken pictures of the livor mortis."

"This isn't lividity!"

"Not livor mortis?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Hui and Li Jian exchanged a glance.

The two men had been investigating death scenes for many years, and Li Jian, in particular, was very familiar with livor mortis.

Wang Hui glanced down and said, "There's not much difference! It's just the same dark red lividity."

Li Jian did not make a judgment immediately; his gaze was focused on Jiang Chen.

His observation just now made him feel that the new forensic doctor's procedures were very standardized and that he was quite skilled.

Then, Li Jian looked at Jiang Chen, waiting for his explanation.

Jiang Chen pointed to the deceased's abdomen and said, "Brother Wang, this isn't lividity, it's bleeding from a human injury!"

"Is there bleeding from the injury?"

Wang Hui looked down at the corpse on the bed with a surprised expression. Apart from a large area of ​​dark red lividity mixed with a few wrinkles, he didn't find anything special.

At this moment, Li Jian, who was standing behind him, also raised his eyebrows slightly, startled.

Having dealt with unnatural death scenes for many years, one of his key criteria for determining whether a case falls under criminal liability is whether there is bleeding on the body.

Thinking of this, Li Jian unconsciously took a step forward and observed carefully.

"Where is the bleeding?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen pointed to his left abdomen and said, "Captain Li, there are folds and padding marks on the left abdomen. Logically, the local lividity should have been squeezed into a pale white color."

"However, you can see that the skin in this area is still a dark red color."

Seeing the puzzled looks on their faces, Jiang Chen continued to explain: "The formation of livor mortis occurs after death, when blood in the blood vessels accumulates in the lower parts of the body due to gravity."

"If the lividity is in the lower part of the body, the padding of objects can cause it to compress the surrounding area, thus forming a pale area of ​​skin."

Then, Jiang Chen said with certainty, "If we analyze it according to this principle, the skin on the left abdomen has the folds of a sheet, so it shouldn't be dark red lividity, but rather a pale area."

"However, this place is a pale area, which is very unusual."

"Of course, according to forensic pathology records, I can use a scalpel to cut it open and observe, making the differences more obvious."

After this analysis, Li Jian and Wang Hui were completely stunned.

In the past, when forensic doctors from the municipal bureau came, they would only tell them the results and never explain the underlying principles. Even if they did explain the principles, they wouldn't understand them.

However, Jiang Chen's analysis was obvious and his understanding was thorough.

After a moment's hesitation, Wang Hui asked in a deep voice, "If that's what you're saying, then there might be something wrong with this corpse?"

Jiang Chen shook his index finger. "It's not a possibility! It's certain!"

"Sure?"

"Because there was another crucial piece of evidence on the body!"