National Forensic Doctor
Chapter 629 - 573: Unforeseen Path Ahead Known to None

Chapter 629: Chapter 573: Unforeseen Path Ahead Known to None

All participating units in the Jingyang Line triple murder case were silently reviewing the case.

The Changyang City Criminal Police Detachment was originally the unit most likely to solve the case, but they focused on the wrong points, primarily zeroing in on the first victim and trying to find the connection between the two victims.

However, the choice of the first victim was entirely random, so the case became an extremely difficult random murder case. Moreover, it was a random murder case without any rape involved, which made it even more challenging to solve.

Even when the special case team restarted the investigation later and considered the random murder scenario, they were faced with an even more challenging situation.

The situation was similar for the police in Huo City and Qingbai City. Their manpower and resources were simply inadequate for such a long-drawn-out investigation.

Even if Jiang Yuan gave them a well-developed plan, it would be very difficult for the two to push the case forward even if they combined forces.

Wang Shikai’s "learning spirit" completely misled the investigation’s direction.

There are a few common investigative approaches to homicide, such as those motivated by greed, lust, or perpetrated by pure psychopaths like random serial killers. Regardless of the type of case, the police usually break through by focusing on the modus operandi.

For example, someone who commits robbery with a knife is likely to do it again; someone who robs by hitting the back of the head with a hatchet will use the same tool and target the same spot; a criminal who uses ether for assault will stick with it for their next crime...

The "hand-chopping gang" will always chop hands, burglars known as "white-dashers" don’t scale walls, and those who climb walls don’t pick locks... After seeing the crime scene, some veteran detectives could immediately recite the identity card number of the perpetrator, and there’s good reason for that.

To describe it with a modern term, this is called path dependence. A robber with past success will likely rob again using the same technique, maybe with slight improvements, but the overall way will not change much.

When it comes to crimes, most people still choose to play it safe. The risks of innovation are high, and most serial cases come to light precisely because the criminal deviates from their established patterns, thus exposing themselves.

However, in the Jingyang Line triple murder case, Wang Shikai’s methods for each murder were completely different, the transportation might have been similar, but because it spanned three cities, the scenarios varied and the means of transportation perforce changed.

Secondly, Wang Shikai’s motivations for each crime were also different.

For the first case, his purpose was to learn; for the second, it was premeditated murder; in the third, he aimed to confuse the police and escape punishment.

When choosing his targets, Wang Shikai’s approach was different each time as well.

In the first case, he targeted the easiest victim to kill, and since it was Wang Shikai’s first murder, his hesitation meant he was waiting for the right moment, which effectively reduced his exposure.

In the second case, Liu Limin, the victim, was someone Wang Shikai was determined to kill. Therefore, he had no selection process for his target but used his experience from the first murder to make the two cases similar yet distinct.

In the third case, Wang Shikai only wanted to distract the police’s attention. Thus, with the experience from the previous cases, he refined his criminal methods and optimized his selection of targets before changing locations again for the act...

In the end, DNA seemed the most likely way to catch Wang Shikai. DNA testing only really began to be promoted in China from 2003, mainly within the purview of provincial authorities. Of course, the use of DNA in solving crimes goes back to 1987, but that was a time without testing kits, without standardized DNA labs; never mind the cost of thousands just talking about the time it took to process one DNA sample.

Most importantly, it wasn’t until around 2003 that a DNA database started to be established in China, and the large-scale use of DNA to solve cold cases began. It was from that time that the authorities dared to proclaim that all homicide cases must be solved.

However, Wang Shikai incredibly exploited a bug known to very few people. That is, DNA contamination on the railway is actually very serious. During the era of green-skinned cars, trains would often be without black water tanks, meaning that the continuous stream of passengers using the toilets essentially left their feces along the railway line.

A lesser-known fact is that the feces dropped by high-speed trains would be in a wind-dried state, scattered on both sides of the tracks.

When the train struck a human body at the high-speed location carefully chosen by Wang Shikai, the scattered human tissue was essentially contaminated the moment it hit the ground.

On the other hand, back then, criminals hardly paid attention to DNA, nor did the investigating officers. So, when the police got railway staff to help collect the dismembered corpses, almost all incriminating DNA was lost.

As for samples on the train, they would naturally get washed away at the next station. The railway bureau reported the incident after it happened, but the train wouldn’t stay put. By the time detectives realized it was a series of cases, the same train could have hit another small animal.

In the end, the case was gradually cracked open.

The judgment of Liu Jinghui, the screening by Xu Taining, and the targeted demolition by Jiang Yuan all played a significant role. It’s not to say the case couldn’t be resolved without any of them, but the time and effort required would unquestionably double, maybe even tenfold.

When the investigation reached this stage, the city bureaus, provincial office, and ministry comrades all gave up.

There are many things in the world that cannot be replicated, and there’s no need to insist on them.

Besides, Jiang Yuan had initially cleared up the case with a clear price tag, which had now only become more expensive.

Wrapping up the case took a few more days.

On the morning Jiang Yuan was due to return, representatives from the Changyang City Bureau, Huo City Bureau, Qingbai City Bureau, provincial office, and the ministry appeared actively to bid him farewell.

Everyone gathered at the high-speed train station, bound by a farewell thick as blood.

"If you’re not happy staying in Ningtai County, why not come live in Changyang City for a while," Yu Wenshu said with a feigned seriousness, inviting Jiang Yuan as if he were rolling with laughter inside. "You’ve bought a house anyway, and if you feel like going home, it’s just a step away."

Jiang Yuan declined with thanks, saying, "I’ve gotten used to living in the village and don’t quite fit in with the big city life. Once I’ve sorted out the county’s affairs, I’ll come to Changyang to continue working on cases."

"Sure, that works," Yu Wenshu patted Jiang Yuan on the shoulder and whispered close, "Just say the word if you need help."

If Jiang Yuan didn’t make a request, Yu Wenshu obviously wouldn’t intervene on his own accord.

Jiang Yuan nodded his thanks, then was pulled into a hug by the leader of the Huo City Bureau’s team, followed by a deputy bureau chief from Qingbai City Bureau.

It took Huang Qiangmin a lot of effort to get Jiang Yuan back.

Next, the team leader from the Huo City Bureau wrapped Huang Qiangmin in his arms and started chatting in detail.

Huang Qiangmin first bared his teeth at a 44.4-degree angle, but as the Huo City Bureau’s offer increased, his smile slowly transformed into a 66.6-degree beam.

"I’m booked up recently, we’ll talk in detail later," Huang Qiangmin said, pushing the Huo City Bureau’s team leader’s chest, and left determinedly.

The team leader from the Huo City Bureau responded with a smile.

After a round of networking, everyone’s excitement gradually subsided. They then listened to the prosecutor who had come with them to transport the vehicle say, "Based on the current evidence, Wang Shikai’s problem isn’t significant. It’s difficult to convict his brother, and according to what we know so far, his brother most likely had no clue at the time of the incident. He might have guessed afterwards, but probably wasn’t sure."

"He took someone’s house," remarked the team leader from the Huo City Bureau, who cared a lot about this matter.

"The Wang family is willing to return the house, plus rent for the years passed," the prosecutor paused, then added, "Wang Shikai deliberately chose the time his brother was in surgery to commit murder. There was no element of instigation. When Wang Shiji came out of the hospital and learned of his girlfriend’s death, it was Wang Shikai who advised him to stay calm to avoid becoming a suspect..."

"That’s all according to Wang Shikai," said the team leader from the Huo City Bureau.

"It makes sense and fits with common logic," the prosecutor replied. "Also, regarding the transportation of the bodies, Wang Shikai is 1.83 meters tall and well-built. He targeted three female victims, all under 100 kilograms, so he could have carried them on his own. During the crime scene reenactment, we had him demonstrate, and there were no issues. Most importantly, he used a tricycle as a means of transport, which would be disadvantageous to carry another tall person."

This explanation was also for the police officers from other units, including Jiang Yuan. In a regular minor case, the prosecutor would decide everything about the prosecution, but with big significant cases like this, communication was necessary.

Jiang Yuan and the others just listened, not speaking.

In some way, Wang Shiji was also a victim. Although he accepted the woman’s house, both parties were aiming for marriage, and the purpose of buying the house was to persuade the man’s parents to meet their common goal. Thus, at that time, he was truly grieving for his lost love.

However, the real stain on his record was how Wang Shiji hesitantly kept the house. That was a major blemish.

An even bigger blemish was the fact that the murderer was Wang Shikai. For Wang Shiji, Wang Shikai’s brother, it was very difficult to completely disassociate himself from the crime.

Yet the law doesn’t punish moral issues, after all.

Just like Bureau Chief Chai Tong, the means he used were not noble, but they were legal and legitimate.

Amongst the farewells, Huang Qiangmin, Jiang Yuan, Mu Zhiyang, Wu Junhao, and his Bald Strike Team boarded the high-speed train back to Ningtai County.

Wan Baoming, who had been silent all along, was now desperately waving his phone, showing his WeChat to Jiang Yuan.

Jiang Yuan opened WeChat and saw Wan Baoming’s new Moments post:

Colleagues part with hard-to-forget memories, past events flood the heart like a tide.

Shared hardships on the same boat linger, team spirit deeply preserved.

Tightly bound by busy work, rare free moments for deep conversations and laughter.

Life is short, full of partings, may joy accompany you after this farewell.

May the bright moon always be with you, lighting up the distance where dreams are sought.

The journey together isn’t over, wishing smooth sailing ahead.

Don’t say the road ahead is without friends, for who in this world doesn’t know you.

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