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

Chapter 851 On-site Investigation, Corpse Decomposing

While examining the body's limbs, Zhang Lin noticed obvious bruises on the victim's wrists. "These are likely marks left from being restrained, probably because the murderer used ropes or similar items to bind the victim's hands during the crime." She continued examining the victim's fingers and found some black substance under the fingernails. "We collected this substance and took it back for testing. It might be something the victim grabbed from the murderer while struggling, or other substances from the scene."

The officers in charge of investigating the scene used powder development to treat the ground around the body in an attempt to extract footprints. "The ground was quite damp, and the footprints weren't very well preserved, but after processing, we still found several different sets of footprints. One set of footprints was larger, with a wider stride and a stride distance of about 75 centimeters, which we initially determined to be male footprints; the other set of footprints was smaller, with a narrower stride and a stride distance of about 60 centimeters, which may be female footprints," the officer reported to Qin Chuan while working on the process.

Qin Chuan stood aside, listening attentively to the reports from all sides, occasionally raising questions and offering guidance. "We need to take detailed measurements and record the footprints we find, including their length, width, depth, and the characteristics of the shoe sole patterns. At the same time, we should expand the search area to see if these footprints extend to other places."

While examining the body's clothing, Zhang Lin discovered that the deceased's clothes had been torn, and there was a damaged cell phone in the pocket. "Take the phone back and see if it can be repaired; it might contain important clues. Also, carefully examine the clothing for bloodstains, hair, or other suspicious substances," Zhang Lin said.

After more than an hour of intense investigation, Zhang Lin reported to Qin Chuan on the findings of the body examination: "Director Qin, based on the current investigation results, the deceased is male, aged approximately between 35 and 45. The preliminary cause of death is determined to be strangulation leading to asphyxiation, with the time of death estimated to be more than a week ago. There are multiple signs of violence on the body, bruises on the wrists indicating restraint, and the clothing was torn. Several sets of different footprints were found at the scene, which may be related to the case. We also found black substance under the deceased's fingernails, and some suspicious marks on the clothing, which require further testing and analysis."

Qin Chuan nodded, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Okay, everyone, thank you for your hard work. Take the body back to the police station for further autopsy and try to obtain more clues. Li Ming, you guys continue to intensify the search of the surrounding area and see if you can find any witnesses or other clues related to the case. At the same time, investigate the deceased's identity information, starting with missing persons and surrounding residents."

In the investigation of criminal cases, identifying the deceased is like a crucial key, unlocking the door to the truth and playing a pivotal role in solving the case. Taking the murder case at the Dongchuan City grape plantation as an example, when a highly decomposed body was presented to the police, the primary task was to uncover the mystery of the deceased's identity. This step would have a profound impact on subsequent investigative work.

Identifying the deceased helps to quickly connect scattered clues. Each deceased person has a unique life trajectory; their interpersonal relationships, daily activities, and economic situation are all potential clues for solving the case. In this murder case at the grape plantation, if the deceased's identity could be known, the police could start by investigating their work and social circle to understand their recent behavior. For example, if the deceased was a worker at the plantation, their coworkers might provide clues such as whether they had conflicts with others or exhibited any unusual behavior before their death; if they were a visitor, their purpose for visiting and the people they came into contact with would become key points of investigation. These seemingly scattered clues, once the deceased's identity is confirmed, can be pieced together like jigsaw puzzle pieces, outlining the general outline of the case.

In a criminal investigation case involving a missing person and subsequent murder, police initially had no clue about the case due to the unidentified body. However, through advanced DNA technology and meticulous investigation, they identified the deceased as a businessman who had been missing for a long time. Using this as a breakthrough, police discovered that the deceased had a heated conflict with his business partner due to a business dispute, thus shifting the focus of the investigation to this partner and ultimately solving the case. This demonstrates that identifying the deceased can organically connect seemingly isolated clues, providing crucial direction for solving a case.

Identifying the deceased allows for precise identification of suspects. The social circles and potential contacts of deceased individuals vary greatly. In the grape-growing area murder case, if the deceased was a local resident, suspects might be neighbors, friends, or acquaintances. If the deceased was from out of town, strangers with whom they had interaction, such as those met during travel or business negotiations, could become suspects. For example, if the deceased frequented entertainment venues, those they met there, including bartenders, regulars, and escorts, should be included in the investigation. If the deceased was a senior executive, business competitors and those involved in workplace disputes might become key targets. By identifying the deceased, police can significantly narrow down the pool of suspects, focusing their efforts on in-depth investigations of relevant individuals and improving the efficiency of solving the case.

Identifying the deceased can also help the police determine the motive. A person's identity is often closely linked to their living conditions and potential conflicts. In a murder case at a grape plantation, if the deceased was the plantation manager, issues such as management decisions and profit distribution might have caused dissatisfaction among others, leading to the murder; if the deceased was an ordinary worker, wage disputes or interpersonal conflicts might have brought about the tragedy. For example, in a rural murder case, after identifying the deceased as a land contractor in the village, the police discovered that he had disputes with several villagers over land leases, ultimately revealing that the murderer killed him due to conflicts over land interests. Identifying the deceased allows the police to uncover potential motives from the deceased's background and social relationships, providing crucial insights for solving the case.

Furthermore, identifying the deceased plays an indispensable role in terms of both legal aspects and social impact. From a legal perspective, only by clearly identifying the deceased can the nature of the case be accurately determined and the culpability of the suspect be ascertained. In terms of social impact, timely identification of the deceased and notification of the family can prevent public panic.

In criminal case investigation, identifying the deceased is a fundamental and extremely crucial task.