Reborn in 97, I solved a cold case at the Municipal Bureau

Chapter 290 Male Corpse in the Well
"Captain Wu, what's up?" Zhou Yi pulled up a chair and sat down, asking curiously.

"Based on the Long Zhiqiang series of cases, the provincial department is discussing two things."

Wu Yongcheng raised his finger and said, "First, the establishment of the computer case database is not only in line with the current trend of technological development, but also enables cities across the province to exchange case information more conveniently, avoiding being deaf and blind to each other."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi exclaimed excitedly, "This is great news!"

He didn't remember exactly when Hongcheng implemented the digitization of case files, but it certainly wasn't as early as it is now.

This suggests that the Long Zhiqiang case, to some extent, accelerated the development of this matter.

"Don't be so happy yet, this is not something that can be done overnight," Wu Yongcheng said. "First, we need to make a special report to the provincial leaders, submit an application, and get the budget approved. Then we need to set up a special department to promote implementation. It won't be that quick."

"That's alright. The fact that the provincial department has started to pay attention to it is the best thing. Just like the DNA lab, it must have been in preparation for a while, and we just happened to catch up with it."

This means that once the computer database is established, searching for old cases, criminal records, and wanted criminals within the province will no longer require making phone calls one by one, which greatly improves efficiency.

Of course, computers are not people, especially in this era where computing power is limited. Some cases' hidden connections and analyses still need to be understood by colleagues in other cities.

Wu Yongcheng nodded: "Anyway, it'll be usable soon, and they'll definitely provide us with computers. The second thing is similar to this."

"What?"

"The provincial department plans to set up a virtual mechanism in the public security systems of twelve cities across the province. The initial idea is to call it the Cross-Regional Joint Law Enforcement Support Team for Major Criminal Cases."

"Joint law enforcement support team?" Zhou Yi found the name interesting.

"Yes, it mainly targets a mechanism for rapid support from police forces across the province when difficulties are encountered in solving major criminal cases."

Zhou Yi instantly understood. This was actually a response to the Long Zhiqiang case, meaning that in the future, if a similar major incident occurs, the province's police force can be quickly mobilized for support without having to report to the provincial department.

Because the rules are already in place, it's a "when one is in trouble, all lend a hand" model.

However, this situation is likely to be rare. The next time a similar level of danger will occur will likely be with the notorious bandit Wong Kam-po.

Wu Yongcheng then said, "However, this situation is quite rare, so there is another mechanism under this virtual team called off-site rotation for handling cases."

Zhou Yi didn't understand: "Rotating shifts in different locations? What does that mean?"

"Simply put, it's like doctors and nurses in a hospital rotating through different departments, spending a few months here and a few months there. In the short term, some outstanding criminal investigators will be transferred between the twelve cities in the province to work in other places, with the aim of strengthening the comprehensive capabilities of the criminal investigation team."

Zhou Yi immediately understood. Unlike a transfer, it was more like a study abroad program. He might stay here for three to five months and then go back.

Zhou Yi speculated that the provincial department's actions were likely intended to create a "catfish effect," encouraging outstanding criminal investigation talents from other regions to stimulate and invigorate the local criminal investigation system, thereby raising its overall level.

The leaders naturally consider things from a macro perspective, but for Zhou Yi, this means he has the opportunity to get in touch with criminal investigation work in other cities in advance, which will give him more opportunities to use the case information in his mind.

"Captain Wu, is there a chance for me to be on duty this time?" Zhou Yi asked hurriedly.

Wu Yongcheng chuckled and said, "If I had known you were keen on doing this, I would have already registered you and Chen Yan for the positions. But this won't be quick; there will definitely be various studies and discussions involved. I estimate it won't be ready for several months."

"Thank you, Captain Wu."

"Hey kid, you're so excited because you know there's a chance to join this team that will be good for your promotion."

Zhou Yi was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "Oh, you can get a promotion? That's great!"

This time, Wu Yongcheng was stunned: "Huh? Then what were you so happy about before?"

"No, I'm just being a little reserved."

"However, promotion will depend on your performance in time. Director Xu said that rewards will be given according to merit, and no comrade who has made contributions will be treated unfairly."

After Wu Yongcheng finished speaking, he continued to look down at the case file.

But when she looked up, she found Zhou Yi still sitting next to her, watching her.

He asked, puzzled, "What's wrong? Is there something else?"

"Captain Wu, you seem to be smoking much less lately."

Wu Yongcheng said calmly, "Ah, you guys complain about being exposed to secondhand smoke, isn't this for your own good?"

"Oh, Captain Wu really cares about his subordinates," Zhou Yi said, drawing out the last syllable.

"No, what exactly do you want to say? Just say what you have to say, or shut up."

Zhou Yi hesitated for a moment, then asked with a serious expression, "Captain Wu, have you been feeling unwell or anything lately?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Yongcheng's expression changed slightly, but he immediately became serious and said, "What, does the Divine Doctor have some brilliant insight this time?"

Zhou Yi realized that Wu Yongcheng's reaction was somewhat problematic.

"Captain Wu, I'm no miracle doctor. I'm just a charlatan. If I guess right, then I'm a miracle doctor. But if you ask me, it's most important to go to the hospital for a full checkup, especially for someone your age who is prone to overthinking."

"Hey, you've got some nerve, kid. Who are you talking about with that sarcastic tone?"

Zhou Yi immediately stood up and walked out, saying with a smile, "I'm going to the restroom."

Wu Yongcheng sat there with his head down, unable to concentrate on the case files any longer.

After thinking for a moment, he suddenly stood up and picked up the car keys on the table.

As soon as Qiao Jiali entered the Municipal Public Security Bureau, she saw Wu Yongcheng and greeted him, "Captain Wu, you're back? Is there a mission?"

Wu Yongcheng waved his hand and said, "It's nothing, you guys go about your business." Then Qiao Jiali saw Zhou Yi walking towards the office, waving his hand.

"Zhou Yi, where is Captain Wu going?"

Zhou Yi peeked into the office and noticed that the Santana car keys were missing from the desk. He smiled and said, "The hospital."

"Hospital?"

Zhou Yi smiled but remained silent.

……

Several hundred kilometers away from Hongcheng, there is a city in a neighboring province called Anyuan.

In an office of the Criminal Investigation Detachment of the Municipal Public Security Bureau in Anyuan City, several people sat together with worried expressions.

Two days ago, in a field on the outskirts of Anyuan City, a farmer working in the field smelled a putrid odor. Following the smell, he eventually found a body in the well after moving a stone slab covering it.

The old farmer was terrified and called the police. The Anyuan Criminal Investigation Detachment immediately rushed to the scene.

The person in charge of this case was Pan Hongjie, the captain of the Second Team of the Criminal Investigation Detachment of Anyuan City. He and his team encountered a problem after arriving at the scene.

Because the wellhead is very narrow, only 35 centimeters in diameter, and the depth is estimated to be four or five meters.

Observing from the opening, the corpse inside was upside down and highly decomposed, as a strong stench could be smelled even when approaching the opening.

Many veteran detectives felt nauseous from the shock, and the old farmer who discovered the body was so frightened that he became incoherent.

Judging from the size of the well opening, it can almost be ruled out that it was an accidental fall.

Because of the size of the well opening, a thin person might fall in headfirst, but it's definitely not possible for them to fall in headfirst.

Moreover, the old farmer confirmed that a stone slab covered the well before he discovered the body.

Pan Hongjie consulted with local officials about the well and learned that it was an abandoned well that hadn't been used for several years. The stone slab had been placed there by the local authorities to prevent accidental falls.

The well is more than five meters deep, making it impossible to retrieve the body by hand.

Finally, having no other choice, they had to call the fire department for help.

After the fire department arrived, they studied the situation for a long time and finally came up with a solution: to send a thin firefighter, tie him with a rope, and lower him down headfirst.

Then grab the corpse by the feet, and pull the person and the corpse up together.

Finally, this method was used to successfully pull the body up.

Even more horrifying was that the corpse was completely naked.

Not only was it highly decomposed, but its face was also severely damaged.

The murderer not only disposed of the body, but also damaged it before doing so.

This was clearly a heinous murder, and the forensic doctor immediately conducted an autopsy on the body.

Preliminary autopsy results indicate that the deceased was male, 1.71 meters tall, weighing approximately 55 kilograms, and aged between 40 and 45 years old.

The deceased was completely naked and had no obvious physical characteristics.

Based on the degree of decomposition of the body, it is preliminarily determined that the time of death was at least more than twenty days ago.

He had several small wounds on his body, the fatal one being a blunt force injury to the back of his head.

As for the facial injuries, they were caused by blunt force trauma, but the forensic doctor determined that they were caused after the victim's death.

In other words, after killing the victim, the murderer deliberately disfigured the victim's face before disposing of the body to prevent it from being discovered and recognized.

Considering the location where the body was dumped—a remote farmland—Pan Hongjie concluded that the murderer possessed extensive counter-surveillance skills and was likely an acquaintance of the perpetrator. The fact that the perpetrator disfigured the victim's face was to prevent the murderer from being discovered and subsequently finding him.

Following this line of thought, Pan Hongjie led a team to compile a list of missing persons in the city.

The first step in investigating a murder case is to identify the deceased.

Only by knowing who the deceased is can an investigation be launched.

Over two days, they sorted through all the missing persons reports in the city and found those whose gender and height matched.

Then we screen and check them one by one.

After two whole days of work, the missing persons could only be ruled out one by one.

In the end, they gained nothing and returned to square one.

Pan Hongjie and his teammates were all unshaven and smelled strange.

"What are your thoughts? Share them," Pan Hongjie said, rubbing his face.

One person said, "Captain Pan, if all else fails, how about expanding the search for missing persons to the entire province?"

Pan Hongjie nodded, because that was the only way.

Suddenly someone said, "Captain Pan, I think I just remembered something."

(End of this chapter)