eurekapd Chapter 1381 A Turning Point Appears in the Case
Chapter 1381 A Turning Point Appears in the Case
"Received!" Xiao Wang nodded immediately. By this time, it was completely dark outside, but the Criminal Investigation Division's office building was still brightly lit. The technical staff were still working overtime to examine physical evidence and compare footprints; forensic doctors Zhang Lin and Xiao Lin were also organizing the details of the autopsy process, trying to find more clues from the existing information; while Xiao Wang and his team, although exhausted from a day's work, remained focused and prepared for the challenges of the next day, determined to uncover the truth as quickly as possible and bring justice to the deceased.
While Xiao Wang led his team to search for missing persons, another group of investigators was also investigating the weapon used in the crime. They visited 12 knife shops and hardware stores in and around Wangjia Village to learn about recent sales of single-edged sharp weapons. However, because single-edged daggers are common tools with numerous sales records, and most shops did not have a real-name registration system, the investigation progressed slowly, and no clues related to the case were found. In addition, the team members also investigated individuals with criminal records in and around Wangjia Village, especially those imprisoned for crimes such as intentional injury and robbery. A total of 8 people were identified as matching the criteria, but after comparing footprints and verifying alibis, all of them were ruled out as suspects.
As night deepened, the lights remained on in the conference room of the Criminal Investigation Division. Li Ming sat at the conference table, his brow furrowed as he looked at the thick stack of investigation records and reports. The victim's identity was unknown, the source of the murder weapon was unclear, and the suspect was nowhere to be found. This murder case in the cornfield was like a fog, shrouding everyone's minds. But Li Ming knew that as the head of the Criminal Investigation Division, he could not back down in the slightest. He believed that as long as they persisted in focusing on the crime scene, relying on physical evidence, continuously expanding the scope of the investigation, and digging deeper for clues, they would surely be able to dispel the fog and find the truth. He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the city lights outside, silently making a resolution: no matter how complex the case, he would bring the suspect to justice, bring justice to the victim, and restore peace to society.
Just as Xiao Wang's team's search for missing persons centered on Wangjia Village reached a stalemate, another investigation team led by Xiao Zhou was conducting door-to-door inquiries in Qinghe Town, where Wangjia Village is located, as instructed by Li Ming. On the morning of September 13th, after assembling with Xiao Wang's team, Xiao Zhou led four team members directly to Qinghe Town. Their core task was to visit labor markets, construction sites, small restaurants, and other densely populated areas to disseminate information about the physical characteristics of the unidentified male corpse, while also investigating recent missing persons in the town, hoping to find clues related to the deceased's identity. Although Qinghe Town is small, it is lined with shops and has a complex population, including long-term locals and a large number of migrant workers, which significantly increased the difficulty of the investigation.
"We'll split into two groups. One group will visit the labor market and surrounding construction sites in the east of the town, while the other group will check the shops and residential areas in the west of the town. We'll focus on asking if any men aged 35-45 wearing blue overalls have gone missing recently, or if anyone has seen a stranger with similar characteristics." Xiao Zhou assigned tasks to the team members at the crossroads at the town entrance, while distributing printed copies of the deceased's physical characteristics. "Everyone should bring a notebook and a camera. Record any suspicious clues immediately, and if you find any missing persons matching the characteristics, collect DNA samples from their families and send them for testing as soon as possible."
Around 8 a.m., Xiao Zhou led a team to the labor market at the east end of the town. The market was already bustling with activity, with many migrant workers gathered along the roadside, waiting for employers to come and recruit. Xiao Zhou and his team approached each worker and employer, distributing printed descriptions of physical characteristics and asking detailed questions. "Sir, look at this person, have you seen him before? He's about 175cm tall, wearing blue overalls, and between 35 and 45 years old. Have you seen anyone like him recently who has gone missing?" Xiao Zhou asked a recruiter who was smoking, holding up the printed description.
The employer took the printed document, examined it carefully, and shook his head: "I don't recall. Our jobs are all short-term; so many people come and go, I can't remember them all. But I haven't heard of anyone going missing recently. If someone hasn't come looking for work for several days, we just assume they've moved." Other workers also said they hadn't seen anyone matching the description or knew nothing about missing persons. Undeterred, Xiao Zhou led his team to several nearby construction sites, checking each one for any missing workers recently. However, after a morning of searching, they found no valuable leads.
After a quick lunch, Xiao Zhou led his team to investigate the shops at the west end of the town. They visited each shop along the street, from hardware stores and general stores to small restaurants and barbershops, explaining the situation in detail and distributing printed descriptions of physical characteristics at each location. When they reached the "Qin Family Oil Mill" near the crossroads at the west end of the town, Xiao Zhou found the shop closed, a stark contrast to the bustling surrounding shops. The signboard was covered in dust, and a few dry leaves were scattered on the steps, suggesting it hadn't been open for several days.
"Is this oil mill usually open? Why isn't it open today?" Xiao Zhou asked the fruit vendor next door. The vendor, an elderly man surnamed Chen, had been selling his fruit there for many years and knew the town very well. Grandpa Chen looked up in the direction of Qin's oil mill and sighed, "Qin's oil mill? It's usually open every day, business is booming. It's been closed for three days now. Something must have happened." Xiao Zhou's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked, "What's Qin's name? How old is he? What clothes does he usually wear? Do you know why he's not open?"
“Boss Qin’s name is Qin Lifeng, he’s 42 years old, a very honest man. He usually wears a blue work uniform, which is similar to what’s written on this printed document,” said Grandpa Chen, pointing to the printed physical description in Xiao Zhou’s hand. “I saw him working at the oil mill a few days ago. On the afternoon of September 10th, I even bought a pound of sesame oil from him, and he greeted me then. But since September 11th, the oil mill has been closed. I thought he had some kind of emergency at home, but it’s been three days and there’s still no news.” Xiao Zhou’s heart raced instantly. The deceased’s physical characteristics and clothing matched Grandpa Chen’s description of Qin Lifeng very well, and Qin Lifeng had been out of contact since September 11th, which also basically coincided with the forensic doctor’s estimate of the time of death as “between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. on September 11th.”