The Forensic Doctor Better Than a Detective

Chapter 462: Chapter 268: Has the Direction Been Reversed? (Part 2)

”Actually, in this case, aside from the clear motive of the murderer wanting financial gain.”

”Although his method of committing the crime appears unprofessional, certain details have been handled quite cleanly and efficiently.”

”Take the murder of Yang Xiu on the first floor—being killed can truly be described as happening in the blink of an eye.”

”You’ve seen the scene reconstruction; if I were the murderer, drawing and wielding the knife would take absolutely no more than two seconds.”

”To settle the fight in two seconds requires not just strength but also repeated practice and precise exertion.”

As Jiang An spoke, he simulated the act of drawing a knife, a sharp look in his eyes as if he himself were the murderer at the crime scene.

Wan, however, curiously raised a doubt, ”That doesn’t seem right.”

”If it were the same person committing the crime, why did the girl upstairs die so peacefully?”

”The murderer didn’t use a sharp weapon?”

While speaking, he gradually untangled his crossed legs, leaned forward, and locked his gaze tightly on Jiang An, awaiting his explanation.

”Exactly, this doesn’t make any sense!”

”According to our mono-theory of crime scene reasoning, there’s certainly a reason behind this difference in the method of killing, but what is it?”

Zhang Yean also chimed in, her eyes full of confusion, her brows scrunched into a ’川’ shape.

Jiang An looked up at the ceiling, swiftly recalling the knowledge he’s acquired over the years.

At this moment, he was trying to fish out that critical clue from the depths of his memory.

Suddenly, Zhang Yean had an epiphany, her eyes lighting up.

”I currently don’t understand why the murderer changed tools, but there’s one point worth considering deeply.”

”When killing the woman upstairs, is there a possibility that some kind of accidental situation occurred, forcing the murderer to change the brutal method?”

Wan speculated, ”Could it be that the murderer saw the second victim was attractive and hesitated to spill blood?”

Zhang Yean nodded, ”You might be onto something, there’s really such a possibility.”

However, as the two continued to discuss, Jiang An quickly walked to the projector, sliding through the case materials, pulling up the original scene photos showing the position of the second corpse.

”Look, the body lying so neatly on the bed is suspicious.”

”Suspicious how?”

”Even if we usually lie flat, we wouldn’t be so straight, legs straightened, arms lying rigid.”

”There’s definitely something wrong here.”

Jiang An’s voice increased slightly, carrying a hint of excitement akin to discovering new territory.

Turning to Zhang Yean, he eagerly said, ”Senior, please check the records of livor mortis and rigor mortis documented by the forensic upon first arriving at the scene.”

Zhang Yean sat upright swiftly, opened the case file, flipped through quickly, and soon found the section of scene investigation notes.

”Found it!”

”According to the forensic scene examination, the livor mortis slightly faded upon pressure.”

”The deceased’s rigor mortis was exceedingly strong, light force couldn’t break it, located at all major joint points on the body.”

”The cornea of the deceased was very clear, and the livor mortis faded upon pressing, just reaching the state of fusion.”

...

Zhang Yean read word for word.

Jiang An frowned tightly, his gaze focused.

As an elite forensics specialist, he knows the vital information hidden behind these details.

The corpse cannot speak, but the forensic can speak for it.

Moreover, the corpse won’t lie.

After a moment, Jiang An muttered, ”The livor mortis only fades when pressed, indicating the time of death is short, at least within 12 hours.”

”However, for the body to reach peak rigidity, it requires at least 15—24 hours.”

”This clearly presents a major contradiction!”

As soon as he said this, Zhang Yean and Wan’s eyes widened instantly, as if they’d heard some earth-shattering opinion.

They both responded in unison, ”What did you say?”

It’s worth noting that this case has been repeatedly discussed by experts including Mr. Zhang and Mr. Ma.

Any conclusion in the case file has been approved by the leadership.

Jiang An’s words undoubtedly challenge authority.

After a long pause, Zhang Yean gently reminded, ”Junior, let’s be cautious about this conclusion.”

Jiang An looked serious and spoke slowly, ”Senior, senior brother, are you familiar with cadaveric spasm?”

”Cadaveric spasm?”

”What does that mean?”

Wan and Zhang Yean exchanged glances, their faces showing confusion.

Jiang An patiently explained, ”When a person’s body encounters a highly tense and dangerous situation, the muscles instinctively contract together.”

”It’s like on the battlefield, some soldiers will maintain a sniper posture when facing a formidable enemy.”

”And this posture can last quite a while!”

”This is essentially a nervous high tension response.”

Then he turned to look at the projector and continued, ”Initially, when analyzing the original appearance of the corpse at the scene, I thought the deceased lay down by themselves, with no obvious movement or wrinkles on the bed.”

”But!”

”Now it seems there’s another possibility.”

”That is, due to extreme fear, the deceased cooperated with the murderer to lie down.”

At this point, Wan grasped the significance.

”Are you suggesting she was coerced?”

”This possibility cannot be ruled out.”

”After all, in such a small enclosed space, if the criminal suspect threatens with a knife, rebutting force for a young, fragile girl is almost negligible.”

Following that, Wan and Zhang Yean’s gaze alternated between Jiang An and the case file, processing these series of astounding deductions.

Jiang An continued his deep analysis, ”The reason I consider it cadaveric spasm, rather than rigor mortis, lies in a key reason.”

”According to the development rule of postmortem rigidity in humans, rigor mortis first appears 1 to 2 hours after death, initially affecting the small joints, then spreading throughout the body 6 to 8 hours later, reaching its peak within 15 to 24 hours, and easing past 48 hours.”

”However, cadaveric spasm does not ease over time; it is the expression of muscle stiffness when the body is in a highly excited and tense state.”

”The body lying so perfectly on the bed precisely indicates the deceased was in an extremely nervous state before death, such heightened tension.”

”This situation was most likely caused by violent coercion.”

Jiang An spoke with clarity, each detail able to withstand scrutiny.

”Violent coercion?”

”What could a young girl be threatened with?”

Wan scratched his head, full of confusion.

”Money, I believe money is a critical breakthrough.”

”On Li Hong’s corpse, there’s neither a trace of revenge nor signs of sexual assault.”

”But have you noticed? In an era when mobile payments weren’t developed, Li Hong was penniless, which is very abnormal.”

”Compared to this, Yang Xiu still had some change on her.”

Jiang An said as he flipped through the case file, finding the relevant records to show the two.

Upon hearing this analysis, Wan and Zhang Yean fell into deep thought.

This conclusion is equivalent to a 180-degree turn for the entire special investigation team.

The motive changed from emotional dispute to financial motivation in an instant.

”This investigation direction must change!”

Wan sighed.

After analyzing Li Hong, Jiang An turned his gaze to Yang Xiu.

”Similarly, Yang Xiu’s corpse showed no signs of others venting their anger, nor other forms of harm, only missing property.”

Instantly, the criminal investigation team’s meeting room plunged into dead silence again.

After a while, Zhang Yean broke the silence and asked, ”So what should we do next?”

Jiang An’s eyes firmly landed on the case file before him.

He declared firmly, ”Let’s go to the archive room and review the case.”

”If this murderer isn’t committing murder for the first time, the case files in the archive room might uncover related cases.”

Meanwhile, Li Jian and Mr. Fu also completed their preliminary investigation work.

The entire process went fairly smoothly!

After all, facing the case of people with white hair sending off those with black hair, everyone feels a sense of sympathy.

Yet, on the way back, their faces were solemn, and their mood wasn’t light at all.

Because this investigation and interviews have already highlighted two men who have appeared around the deceased.