An hour later, the professional retrieval team arrived at the scene.
For water retrieval, the Criminal Investigation Team has a dedicated collaboration team.
Based on the experience of criminal investigations, the proportion of water-related cases is not high, but not low either.
Especially in homicide cases, the percentage of bodies disposed of in water can reach thirty percent.
Besides homicides, items related to many other cases, especially murder weapons, are often thrown into the water as well.
Therefore, the Criminal Investigation Team often requires underwater retrieval services.
Wu Jingzhong used to be a professional swimmer and established a retrieval company after retirement.
It is a retrieval team that has been working with the Criminal Investigation Team for a long time.
"Old Wu, the situation below is unclear; it could be a body or something else. Be careful during retrieval and try not to cause any damage."
Wu Jingzhong, in his forties, with a rough appearance, patted Ren Qiang on the chest: "Don't worry, I'm going down myself to retrieve it this time."
The body has already been transported away, and time is of the essence for the autopsy.
Lu Chuan also went back.
Because no identification documents were found on the body.
Lu Chuan needs to go back to collect the fingerprints and DNA samples from the body to see if the deceased's identity can be matched in the system.
Compared to collecting fingerprints at a fire scene, collecting fingerprints from a body is somewhat simpler.
Of course, this so-called simplicity depends on the degree of decomposition of the body.
According to forensic estimates, the time of death of the submerged body was roughly three days ago.
Moreover, due to soaking in water, the body is not highly decomposed, just severely swollen.
However, even for fingerprint collection, this poses a significant challenge.
The most difficult bodies for fingerprint collection are those with high decomposition, where touching causes body fluids to leak, and the entire body resembles a large jelly — that is truly difficult to handle.
Autopsy room.
The body lay flat on the autopsy table, and two forensic doctors were prepared to make incisions.
"Ding!"
"Basic task: Complete the fingerprint extraction of the submerged body and confirm the identity of the deceased."
After accepting the task, Lu Chuan also prepared to take fingerprint impressions.
Judging from the body's shape, it had a balanced and proportionate figure, long legs, and fair skin.
Although the face had been gnawed by fish and the original appearance could not be discerned, the oval face shape was still recognizable.
With long hair reaching the waist, the age should be under thirty; she must have been a very beautiful woman in life.
Lu Chuan did not directly use oil ink to take the fingerprint impressions, as the body would be swollen after being soaked.
If not processed, the gaps between the fingerprint ridges would be enlarged in the impression.
It's like enlarging the whole fingerprint by a certain multiple, which would cause considerable difficulties in subsequent comparisons.
Opening the crime scene investigation box, Lu Chuan began to process the fingers of the body.
But before this, Lu Chuan needed to communicate with the forensic doctor.
After all, crime scene investigators only have the responsibility and right to inspect the body surface; to move the body directly, the consent of the forensic doctor is required.
"Forensic Doctor Wang, the body has been soaked, and the fingers are swollen. I need to process the fingers to a certain extent, but it won't affect the completion of the autopsy. What do you think..."
Wang Changjiang is a senior forensic doctor with the Criminal Investigation Team, and technically speaking, he's on par with Liu Guodong.
However, in terms of status, he doesn't rank as high as Liu Guodong.
The action team and detective squad generally find it hard to rely on forensic doctors.
In the entire Criminal Investigation Team, forensic doctors can be said to have one of the most leisurely positions.
Comparable to the lady delivering newspapers at the newsstand outside the door.
"It's fine," Wang Changjiang waved his hand: "There are no other injuries on the body surface; the cause of death should be mechanical asphyxia."
"Shen, help Lu take photos of the body first to fix the pre-autopsy state, and then Lu can collect the fingerprints."
"Got it, Professor."
Her voice was sweet, and crisp, and her smile was also very appealing.
One of the police beauties in the Criminal Investigation Team, Shen Yan.
Lu Chuan's senior, joined the police two years ago.
The two originally knew each other in school since one was a famous campus beauty and the other a campus prince; there were bound to be overlaps.
"Thanks, senior. I'll treat you to a meal some other day."
"Sure, let me know when; I'll be waiting for you then."
Shen Yan's smile was sweet, bringing a bit of vitality to the gloomy autopsy room.
"Let's do tomorrow; both our professions shouldn't be too busy then."
The body case was simple; the autopsy and crime scene investigation work should be mostly done today.
Tomorrow is just right for a meal.
Shen Yan swiftly finished taking photos, and Lu Chuan took over next.
Opening the crime scene investigation box, Lu Chuan took out a five-centimeter-long steel needle.
Then, he prepared a paper cup and slowly inserted the needle into the crevice of the body's fingernail.
The depth was shallow, only about one centimeter.
Shen Yan and Wang Changjiang had seen Liu Guodong collect fingerprints from bodies before; it usually involved just cleaning the fingers and taking direct impressions.
Not as complicated as Lu Chuan's method.
"Lu Chuan, what are you doing..."
Wang Changjiang remained calm, though curious he didn't speak, while the understanding Shen Yan widened her eyes and curiously asked.
"This steel needle is hollow and can expel bodily fluids from under the nail to some degree, reducing swelling, making the fingerprint collection easier for comparison."
While speaking, light yellow liquid dripped from the end of the needle, and the fingertip gradually shriveled.
Shen Yan watched Lu Chuan's operation in amazement, occasionally clicking her tongue in approval.
Lu Chuan was in a cheerful mood, akin to a peacock spreading its feathers.
Collecting fingerprints was like unveiling that plumage.
Lu Chuan quickly completed the operation and then extracted hair and nails for DNA sampling.
Next, Shen Yan and Wang Changjiang were busy with the autopsy and preparing the forensic report.
Lu Chuan returned to the lab to first extract DNA information using instruments.
Extracting DNA information is not as people imagine, simply sending the specimen into some machine and receiving DNA information.
All DNA specimens require pre-processing before information extraction.
In professional trace evidence terminology, this is called purification.
Previously, the Criminal Investigation Team had several methods for DNA extraction.
Mainly divided into two categories: liquid extraction and solid extraction.
However, ten years ago, a reagent was invented above for extracting and purifying DNA, unifying the means of DNA extraction in criminal investigations.
It also greatly reduced the difficulty of DNA information extraction.
Lu Chuan learned about this in college and observed Liu Guodong and others operating the instruments over the past month.
While some complex cases couldn't be solved, general DNA extraction posed no problems.
After processing the specimen, Lu Chuan began preparing for fingerprint comparison.
The fingerprint database of the Haizhou City Public Security Bureau is connected with the whole province.
This was a major project promoted by the provincial department in recent years.
With technological advancement and improved resident information, more and more people have their fingerprints collected.
In some police stations, there are even quotas for this, with a requirement to collect a certain number of fingerprints annually.
Therefore, many people who handle matters at the police station often encounter the situation where fingerprints are collected before proceeding with their affairs.
Although Lu Chuan did not have strong fingerprint comparison analysis skills, his fingerprint collection was very standard.
The system can conduct comparisons on its own.
While Lu Chuan was busy, the retrieval team at Happy Reservoir also had results.