The crackdown on organized crime began with the arrest of the mother-in-law.

Chapter 1221 Clues to the Deceased's Identity

During the examination of the abdominal organs, Zhang Lin discovered that the stomach contents were of significant value: "The stomach was empty, with only a small amount of semi-digested rice, vegetable scraps, and minced meat remaining, about 15ml. The food was highly digested, with the edges of the rice grains completely dissolved, and the muscle fibers of the minced meat severely broken. Based on the degree of food digestion and the gastric emptying time (it takes about 4-6 hours for mixed food to be completely emptied), we estimate that the deceased's last meal was 5-6 hours before death, that is, between 9 pm and 11 pm on August 22nd." He turned to Lin Xiao and said, "This time point is very important. Combined with the previously identified time of death (2-4 am on August 23rd), we can further narrow down the investigation period for the deceased's activities before death."

"Could there be any drugs in the stomach contents? Like sedatives or sleeping pills, causing the victim to lose the ability to resist?" Lin Xiao asked, holding a stomach contents extraction tube. Zhang Lin nodded: "A stomach contents sample has been taken and sent to the toxicology lab for testing. Drug poisoning or anesthesia has been ruled out. However, judging from the external injuries, apart from strangulation marks on the neck, there were no other obvious signs of resistance or restraint on the victim's body. It's possible the victim was attacked without warning, or that the perpetrator knew the victim, lowering their guard."

During the autopsy of the pelvic organs, Zhang Lin discovered a crucial item in the lining of the deceased's jeans pocket—a silver Zippo lighter with minor scratches and a small amount of mud on the edges, perfectly matching the characteristics of the lighter found earlier at the sewer manhole. "There were no obvious fingerprints on the lighter's surface (possibly damaged by the mud), but there were still small amounts of gasoline residue inside, indicating recent use," Zhang Lin explained. He placed the lighter in an evidence bag. "This lighter may have been a personal item of the deceased. By examining its production batch and sales channels, combined with the deceased's age and clothing characteristics, we can investigate missing persons information and confirm the deceased's identity."

As the autopsy neared its end, Zhang Lin summarized all the findings: "Based on the comprehensive examination of the body surface, analysis of post-mortem phenomena, and internal autopsy results, the deceased died from mechanical asphyxiation caused by strangulation; the time of death was between 2:00 AM and 4:00 AM on August 23; the last meal was between 9:00 PM and 11:00 PM on August 22; the weapon used was a soft, black nylon cord (such as a nylon rope); the deceased showed no obvious resistance before death, possibly indicating that they knew the perpetrator or were unprepared; the only personal belonging was a Zippo lighter, and no identification documents such as an ID card or mobile phone were found, suggesting that the perpetrator deliberately removed the deceased's belongings to conceal their identity."

Lin Xiao organized the autopsy report, checking the key data one by one: "The nylon fibers from the neck strangulation marks, the stomach contents sample, the lighter and residual gasoline, and the pathological sections of the heart and lung tissue have all been marked and sent for testing. Preliminary results are expected tomorrow morning. In particular, the composition comparison of the nylon fibers, if the source can be found, may be able to identify the murder weapon used by the killer."

Zhang Lin removed his gas mask, the smell of disinfectant lingering on his face. Looking at the body, now re-covered on the autopsy table, he knew that this autopsy report not only determined the time and cause of death but also provided crucial directions for solving the case—from the "last meal between 9 and 11 pm on August 22nd" to pinpoint the deceased's activities before death, from the "black nylon rope" to trace the source of the murder weapon, and from the "ZIPPO lighter" to identify the deceased, each clue could potentially be the key to unlocking the mystery.

"Prepare the autopsy report and hand it to Captain Li first thing tomorrow morning," Zhang Lin said to Lin Xiao. "Pay special attention to the time of death, the characteristics of the weapon used to cause the injury, and the details of the lighter. These are the core directions for the next stage of the investigation. Also, remind the technical department to prioritize testing for nylon fiber components and toxins in the stomach contents. We need to rule out the possibility of drug involvement as soon as possible and confirm the killer's modus operandi."

As the body was pushed back into the embalming transport box, the clock in the autopsy room struck 1 a.m. Zhang Lin walked to the window, looking at the lights on in the distant Criminal Investigation Detachment office building. Remembering the curled-up body at the sewer manhole, he silently said, "No matter who you are, we will find the murderer and give you an explanation." The night was deep, but the lights in the autopsy room remained bright. This autopsy report, carrying the truth, would soon become a crucial basis for the police to track down the murderer and reconstruct the case. The evil hidden in the sewer sludge would finally be completely revealed through the intertwining of science and justice.

As night fell, most of the police tape along Jiefang West Road had been removed, leaving only two officers on duty near the sewer manhole. Xiao Zhou, along with his teammates Xiao Zhao and Xiao Sun, carrying photos of the deceased's physical characteristics and clothing, began visiting nearby residential areas and community service centers. According to Li Ming's plan, after the forensic doctor's preliminary determination of the time of death, confirming the deceased's identity through these visits was crucial to providing direction for the subsequent investigation.

The first stop was the "Happy Home" residential community, the closest to the scene. Xiao Zhou entered the community's duty room, where the security guard, Lao Li, was dozing at his desk. Hearing the noise, he looked up, and upon seeing the police identification, immediately woke up: "You're here about the sewer issue this morning, right? I heard about it from my colleagues this morning; it was terrifying!"

“Mr. Li, have you seen anyone with these features recently?” Xiao Zhou handed over a photo, which was labeled “Male, 25-35 years old, 178cm tall, wearing a black cotton-blend jacket and dark jeans, with calluses on his left knuckles.” Old Li took the photo, squinted at it for a long time, and said, “These features are too common. Many young people in the neighborhood dress like this. But…” He suddenly paused, “About three days ago, I was on duty around 10 p.m. and saw a man in a black jacket loitering at the entrance of the neighborhood, seemingly waiting for someone. He was also holding a silver lighter, which looks a bit like the deceased’s belongings you mentioned.”

"Did he enter the residential area? Or do you remember any other characteristics of him? For example, his hairstyle, whether he had any tattoos or anything like that?" Xiao Zhao pressed. Lao Li tried hard to recall: "He didn't enter the residential area. He wandered around for about 20 minutes and then left. He had short hair, and I didn't see any tattoos, but he walked with a limp, as if his left leg was not very convenient."

This detail caught Xiao Zhou's eye – the forensic doctor mentioned during the initial examination that the deceased's left knee joint was slightly deformed, which might have caused him difficulty walking. "Can you confirm that he was limping in his left leg? Around which night?" Xiao Zhou pressed, and Lao Li checked the duty log: "It was the night of August 22nd. I remember it very clearly. It was my daughter's birthday that day, and I even video-chatted with her."

After leaving the residential compound, the three headed to the community service center. Upon hearing their purpose, community director Wang Fang immediately produced the recent missing persons register.