Diary of a Criminal Investigator-Chapter 374: The Talking Corpse

The conditions for a corpse to become moldy are not stringent; as long as the climate temperature is suitable, without sunlight and wind interference, mold can easily occur on the body.

Of course, most corpse mold occurs only in certain parts of the body, and it’s rare for the entire body to become moldy.

While it’s not impossible for the entire body to become moldy, it’s particularly rare. Under especially suitable external conditions, the mold growth can be extensive, with hyphae reaching around two centimeters in length.

In ancient texts, the so-called hairy corpse is actually a corpse that has become highly moldy in a dark underground environment, and when it occasionally appears before people, it becomes known as a hairy corpse.

Additionally, refrigerated bodies can also become moldy. If a refrigerated body’s incubator is not particularly cold and mold spores are present, the body will become moldy.

Wang Changjiang just mentioned that the mold on the corpse has levels of variation, which is quite unusual.

This is because mold generally progresses over time, but does not vary in levels.

Such variation suggests two different mold growths might have occurred on the body.

Thus, Wang Changjiang proposed the hypothesis of freezing for consideration.

"The dissection of the leg bones and arms... was done with tools."

Liu Guodong turned over the severed arm and the leg bones in the case, inspecting them, his face furrowed in a displeased expression.

"Are you certain it was tools?"

Wang Changjiang also flipped them over for a look, confirmed, and his face also turned grave.

In most cases involving the dismemberment of a body, the perpetrator uses an axe or saw.

The dismemberment cases we’ve handled, more than just one or two, have shown most perpetrators dismember bodies in this violent fashion.

But dismembering with tools...

This suggests the person has some understanding of human skeletal structure or muscle anatomy.

Typically, there are two possibilities in this scenario. The first is that the perpetrator’s profession requires knowledge of human skeletal or muscle anatomy, such as a doctor.

The second reason might be that the person has killed many times, dismembered often, and has become skilled through practice.

Neither scenario is good news.

While the two were observing, Lu Chuan turned on the ultraviolet light, scanning the outside of the case and the body inside.

"Found one."

With the overcast weather and no sunlight interference, Lu Chuan increased the power of the UV light, thereby discovering some biological traces.

On the side of the case, at the handle position, they found a fingerprint.

Old Yang held the UV light, and Lu Chuan used photography to capture the fingerprint.

The suitcase was made of plastic, and the handle area would be highly disruptive to fingerprint collection by other means; direct photography was preferred.

"Old Wang, look here."

Liu Guodong flipped the corpse, revealing the back side of the torso.

"What’s this...?"

On the corpse’s back, besides some moldy portions, there were large dense patterns, like the imprints left by a bamboo mat.

"Looks like bamboo mat patterns?"

"Yes, it seems the body was placed directly on a bamboo mat after the killing, leaving such imprints."

Lu Chuan stepped forward to continue taking photos.

The reason the body could leave these markings is because, after death, all muscles in the body relax.

The nervous system controls muscles, and after death, when the nervous system ceases function, the body’s muscles enter a state of automatic relaxation.

And it presents a relatively regular external form.

For example, with a relaxed sphincter, excrement and urine may flow; the hands may naturally curl, with the thumb slightly turned inward, the other four fingers naturally curled over the thumb, forming a loosely clenched fist.

This state can be experimented with when alive by voluntarily relaxing control over hand muscles, resulting in such natural curling.

And precisely because the muscles are relaxed, lacking support for the skin, the skin loses its elasticity and can’t rebound against external pressure, making it imprints on whatever the corpse is placed upon during the muscle relaxation phase.

Except for decomposition, these imprints won’t disappear.

The corpse inside the case was unclothed, in a state of full exposure.

The torso’s chest area showed clear knife wounds; the sharp weapon penetrated the heart, delivering a fatal blow.

Wang Changjiang and the others continued the examination: "The cause of death is a puncture wound to the chest, the heart was stabbed, leading to excessive blood loss and death."

"No other wounds were found on the corpse."

The corpse surface was clean, without other wounds, indicating no signs of violent abuse before death.

"Female, around thirty years old, with corneal clouding and lens adhesion, evident bulging, indicating a death time exceeding a month."

This was Wang Changjiang’s preliminary judgment of the cause and time of death.

"Lu, come take a photo of this."

Liu Guodong pointed at the corpse’s right hand: "There’s a ring mark here."

On the little finger of the corpse’s right hand, there was a clear impression of a ring.

"And her neck, there’s another here."

After taking photos, Lu Chuan carefully compared.

Though both were marks, they differed.

The little finger’s mark, beneath the pressure mark, showed a long-term ring wear sunburn, lighter in color.

While the neck’s indentation was likely caused by necklace pressure.

"Master, there’s an issue with this mark, right?"

Liu Guodong acknowledged: "Record it first, we’ll discuss it later."

Lu Chuan nodded, and the team continued the crime scene investigation and the surface examination of the corpse.

After examining the legs, arms, and torso in turn, over an hour or so passed.

"This isn’t the primary crime scene. Let’s move the body out and then test for micro-evidence in the box, followed by a postmortem examination."

There was no objection to Liu Guodong’s proposal since the location wasn’t suitable for extended duration.

Soon, Lu Chuan and three others, along with Wang Changjiang, helped carry the box out of the dump, placing it on the roadside corpse transport vehicle.

"What did you find?"

Qin Yong immediately inquired about the situation.

"The cause and time of death..."

Wang Changjiang briefly reported on the corpse’s condition: "We’ll conduct a detailed autopsy as there might be signs of refrigeration, aiming to produce a report by tonight."

"What about Old Liu?"

"The perpetrator’s dismemberment technique is highly professional."

"If the perpetrator lacks a background like that of a surgeon or such professions, it’s likely they’re a repeat offender. So, I have a suggestion."

"Go ahead."

Liu Guodong looked back at the large dumpsite: "The dumpsite is vast. If the person didn’t just kill this one individual, could there be more bodies here in this dump?"

More bodies?

Qin Yong’s expression turned even more serious.

Liu Guodong continued: "I just had a conversation with Li Hong at the police station. The dump here was cleared and taken away for incineration yesterday."

"In Warehouse Valley village, there are few scavengers, and the areas they can search are limited."

"So, I think, to be safe, should we..."