Chapter 536: Chapter 536: The Pitiful Young Couple

Theoretically speaking, after a person passes through a place, their skin cells will be left behind on the traces they passed.

As long as these skin cells can be collected, the other party’s DNA information can be locked down.

Of course, in reality, determining this kind of spatial trace is not easy, because the quantity of skin cells is too small, and current technology cannot conduct DNA identification; only large pieces of skin or hair can be subjected to DNA identification in this regard.

"Let’s start from the side where the killer shouldered the corpse. The opponent, burdened by the body, probably left something behind."

"Also, check the clothes of the corpse, especially the front of the clothing, as something might have been left when the body was carried."

The reason Lu Chuan determined that the perpetrator shouldered the body instead of cradling it was because of the different footprints on the fallen leaves.

Shouldering a body and cradling a body result in different walking postures for the killer.

If the person was cradling the body, because of the body’s weight on the chest, the killer’s posture would tilt slightly backward to maintain balance, shifting the body’s center of gravity rearward.

Compared to normal footprints, the impression of the heel would be deeper.

But if the person shouldered the body, to prevent it from falling, the body should lean forward, shifting the center of gravity slightly forward, resulting in deeper impressions from the ball of the foot.

Additionally, considering the terrain, the person went from the trail to the site where the body was hung, a downhill path, making it easier to descend with a shouldered body.

At this point, for safety, the person may have held onto nearby trees during the process.

In this case, they likely left trace clues behind.

Facts proved that Lu Chuan’s judgment was correct. Liu Guodong soon found two strands of hair on one of the trees.

Liu Guodong carefully picked up the hairs with tweezers and placed them into an evidence collection bag.

Of course, this cannot definitively prove the hair belongs to the murderer. For example, the two young people who just entered the woods might have left their hair on the trees, or it could even belong to the corpse.

Whose it is exactly requires a DNA analysis back at the lab, and comparison later, but nonetheless, it is an important lead.

Crime scene investigation emphasizes meticulousness; although Lu Chuan’s team has three people, the progress is slow, since clearing the new fallen leaves is already a time-consuming task.

Qin Yong and others are familiar with the crime scene investigation process and know it would not be completed in two or three hours, so they simultaneously advance other tasks.

First is the determination of the deceased’s identity.

Just now, Qin Yong, Zhang Hui, and others approached the corpse for some observation.

Unfortunately, the degree of decomposition is severe, and they can’t gather basic information from the face.

Using ’severe decomposition’ to describe the situation is somewhat understated.

The level of decay is such that even Qin Yong and Zhang Hui, who regularly engage with corpses, felt nauseated.

The body hung on the tree branch had severely decomposed after being exposed to the elements for half a month. One eye was half-hanging outside while the other protruded, clouded like a dead fish’s eye.

The mouth and nose had rotted away, especially the nose, resembling two black holes with maggots constantly writhing in and out. One ear had rotted and fallen to the ground, and the other was half-decayed, hanging at the edge of the profile.

Thankfully, the clothing covers the corpse, so other parts aren’t exposed, and the extent of decomposition there is unseen.

Underfoot, cadaveric fluid dripped constantly, soaking a small circle with an overwhelming stench assaulting their senses, making one nauseous.

Qin Yong had handled many homicide cases and seen hangings, but this was the first such degree of decomposed corpse exposed outdoors to wind and rain for half a month.

No wonder the two young people who discovered the body still stood roadside, weak at the knees and dazed.

Even as police officers, Qin Yong, Zhang Hui, and the others had a hard time accepting the sight of the corpse, let alone the two ordinary people.

The pair had just been down below for an intimate encounter, their mood heightened, only to turn and witness such a horror. It’s a wonder they didn’t scare to death, proving their luck.

As for why they hadn’t smelled the stench, it’s simple: the odor from a decaying corpse outdoors drifts intermittently.

Due to air currents around, the stench sometimes seems carried away, barely detectable until it blows in your direction.

"The facial features of the corpse cannot identify their identity, do a DNA analysis to see if there’s a match."

Zhang Hui retched twice, struggling to suppress his revolting breakfast: "It’s fortunate that the clothes remained intact, we can check the missing persons’ report database for any matches."

"Right, confirming the body’s identity would be ideal."

On their way here, Qin Yong and others noted the lack of surveillance around Five-Flower Mountain, meaning no video evidence left by the perpetrator.

It’s no tourist attraction, merely a natural mountain feature.

No charges, no ticket sales, thus lacking basic infrastructure investment.

When the crime scene investigation neared its end, it was already past three in the afternoon.

By this time, the first young people who found the body finally recovered a bit.

They could at least speak normally.

"We... we went down to hang out... then as we just went in... turned around and... boo hoo hoo..."

The girl’s speech was still a bit stuttered, but she was indeed scared out of her wits.

According to the girl, they did not initially smell a stench, though the odor was mildly unpleasant; they didn’t think too much about it.

Their site was directly behind the tree where the body was hung, meaning they were separated from the corpse by just one large tree.

Given the positioning, the girl turned first and saw the body, one could imagine how frightened she was.

The boy was slightly better off emotionally, speaking without stuttering at least.

"We had just started when the foul stench hit us, my girlfriend couldn’t stand it, and we decided to change direction, then it happened."

Their statements did not provide much useful information.

When they saw the corpse, they screamed in terror, scrambled up the slope, yelling for help, and as they neared the top, Lu Chuan and Shen Yan arrived.

After this experience, this young couple would likely never venture into the woods again, let alone for such rendezvous.