Chapter 8: Facial Reconstruction Technique 3

  Zhang Tong shook his head, arranging the remains while answering, "It's currently impossible to make a definitive judgment. Because this is a mixture of flower fertilizer, its chemical reaction process will have a great impact on human remains. It can even accelerate the decomposition of the body. The degree of decay is unbelievable. I need to do further testing to get an approximate time frame. However, it's not easy. After going back for autopsy, I'll try my best to give you the report as soon as possible."

  "That's what I'm saying. It's very difficult to determine the exact time of death." Wang Yanan's face was solemn.

  "That's right, the murderer dumped the body here and tried to confuse us with the fermentation degree of the mixed fertilizer. He's very clever." Zhang Tong looked down at the deceased's pelvis and skull shape. "Judging from the bone age, this is a woman around 30 years old who has given birth. These are all I can tell you for now."

  "Then we'll meet at our bureau. Get me the autopsy report as soon as possible."

  Zhang Tong nodded and immediately instructed his assistant Deng Ran to help sort out the remains, preparing to take them back to the bureau for an autopsy.

  The corpse in front of her was one of the most frustrating cases she had examined. She furrowed her brow, gazing at the autopsy table. Normally, forensic experts would use DNA extraction methods from hair or muscle tissue, but those methods were useless here. The accursed mixed fertilizer had corroded and contaminated almost all the useful external information on the corpse. Even if they were extremely lucky, they wouldn't be able to extract enough material to make a specimen, let alone determine the identity of the deceased. The perpetrator clearly understood the properties of mixed fertilizer. The corpse on the autopsy table was now completely unrecognizable. As for determining the correct time of death, she was at a complete loss. The various components in the mixed fertilizer would produce a large amount of heat during chemical reactions, accelerating the decomposition of the corpse. Under normal conditions, it took around a month for a corpse to decompose, depending on the environment and temperature. However, if buried in this mixed fertilizer, the same effect could be achieved in less than a week. Moreover, there were countless bacteria in the fertilizer heap, further speeding up the decomposition process.

  There are two methods available. One is to extract the deceased's teeth. Fortunately, the deceased's teeth are very neat and intact. The fertilizer has not affected the enamel on the outside of the teeth. However, in the country, due to the lack of emphasis on tooth protection, there are no relevant dental records that can be queried. But human teeth are all hollow inside, and the pulp contains complete DNA information from the deceased. After cleaning the skull, Zhang Tong removed one of the deceased's intact molars, ground it, and then extracted the pulp tissue with a needle tube. Everything went smoothly. This will be very helpful in confirming the identity of the deceased in the future.

  Next, facing the corpse with sparse and contaminated muscle tissue, she chose a method that others could not accept to obtain a clean and intact skeleton. After patiently explaining the steps to be taken, Deng Ran's face was stretched: "Director Zhang, no way, this is too terrifying."

  Zhang Tong smiled slightly and said: "No way. You go prepare. Now we can only do this. Endure it."

  Deng Ran reluctantly walked out of the house, and when he reached the door, he turned around awkwardly and said: "Zhang Fa Yi, what should I say to the people in the warehouse? Should I tell them the truth?"

  "Idiot," Zhang Tong hastily shook his head, "If you say that, the two of us will become freaks in other people's eyes. Just say it's an experiment."

  Deng Ran helplessly nodded his head.

  Not long after, the young man brought in an electromagnetic stove and a large pot. The cameraman, seeing this scene, was also confused but still came forward to help. Soon, the special stove was set up, and the water began to boil. Zhang Tong added enzyme cleaning agent to the water. After the water boiled, she signaled Deng Ran to join hands. The two people carefully put the decomposed corpse on the autopsy table into the pot piece by piece. This scene really looked like stewing pork ribs in a large pot in the cafeteria. The difference was that what they were putting into the pot was human bones. Not long after, the small autopsy room was filled with a strange smell and an indescribable fishy smell.

  Actually, many forensic doctors do this for a reason. Because if a body really can't be identified, and there's no corresponding DNA database to compare it with, then the only way is to extract the skeleton. This method allows for facial reconstruction. As early as the 1940s, American FBI laboratory forensic doctor and anthropologist William Krogman first used this method. In simple terms, after determining the age and sex of the bones, clay is used to rebuild the deceased's facial features based on the skull. This reconstruction is partly based on careful measurements and partly on the imagination of the reconstructor. Now, unlike in the past, these tasks can be performed using computer scans for differentiation and reconstruction, which are much more accurate than human hands. Although there is no witness testimony, forensic doctors still cannot determine whether the deceased was fat or thin. However, a general appearance can still be determined, which is of great help in finding the source of the body. The second effect is that sometimes, human skeletons can faithfully record the fatal injuries suffered by the deceased, such as fractures and even small cracks on the skeleton. These are very helpful for inferring the cause of death. When dealing with a rotting corpse, the best way to quickly obtain an intact skeleton is to boil it in high-temperature water, which is both sanitary and efficient. However, the process can be psychologically unbearable at times.

  The high-temperature boiling water made the strange smell in the air of the entire dissection room more and more intense. However, it was still better than the mixed fertilizer smell. Time passed minute by minute. Finally, the bones were separated from the flesh. Under Zhang Tong's demonstration, Deng Ran and she carefully scooped out each bone with a large iron spoon and put them back on the dissection table. At this moment, compared to the corpse that was completely unrecognizable earlier, although it was still the same body, but looked much more acceptable. After the stove was turned off, there was no longer any foul smell in the air. Under the direct light of the lamp above the dissection table, the bones were dazzlingly white. The two of them started from the head and foot of the corpse respectively, carefully examining each bone one by one. Not a single small crack would be missed. Finally, a clear fracture was found at the hyoid bone position under the skull. However, there were no obvious fractures in other parts of the skeleton that could have caused death.

  "Xiao Deng, this deceased is highly likely to have been strangled to death. Because the hyoid bone is located at the bottom of the skull cavity, it's generally not prone to injury unless both hands are used to forcefully squeeze the victim's neck, causing the hyoid bone to fracture and resulting in asphyxiation. Zhang Tong pointed out the only damaged area on the deceased's skull in her hand to Deng Ran standing opposite her, and made a squeezing motion with her hands in the air."

  However, we must rule out other causes of death first. It's just a pity that the deceased's body was contaminated with mixed fertilizers. There is no way to make further inferences." She said this and picked up the deceased's skull with both hands. "Xiao Deng, turn on the computer and laser scanner. Next, we will perform facial reconstruction imaging on the deceased."

  As soon as he heard this, Deng Ran was somewhat excited. Because it's rare to have the opportunity to practice this kind of technology in daily life. He was busy while excitedly saying: "Dr. Zhang, can I operate for a bit later?"

  "Of course, it's very simple, similar to playing computer graphics." As she spoke, she carefully placed the deceased's skull on the triangular bracket under the scanner, adjusted the angle, and then gestured for Deng Ran to start operating. With the humming of the instrument, a red beam slowly scanned the entire head from different angles three times. After that, the instrument beeped, indicating the end of the scan. The remaining work would be completed by specialized computer software.

  "Xiao Deng, you entered 'female' in the gender column, 'thirty years old' in the age column, 'have given birth' in the marital status column, and 'Asian' in the ethnicity column." Zhang Tong stood behind Deng Ran, carefully categorizing and pointing out. (Author's note: The computer database contains corresponding data for women of various ages, sourced from the public security system's second-generation ID photo storage library. The data collection is quite comprehensive, with an average value for each item of data for every age group of women. By combining and comparing the data collected through laser scanning, a rough facial reconstruction result can be obtained quickly.)

  While waiting for the facial reconstruction image to be made and printed, Zhang Tong and Deng Ran, along with the cameraman, lifted up the large pot that was still emitting steam and poured water into a stainless steel filter net on the other side of the autopsy table. This way, some of the deceased's muscle tissue and hair could be preserved. The remaining wastewater would be properly treated in a special drainage system under the autopsy room before being discharged into the sewer. At this time, a lifelike facial simulation image was printed out from the printer connected to the computer behind them.

  "Zhang Fa Yi. What about this pot?"

  "Keep it for now, you can use it again next time." she replied casually.

  As soon as he heard this, Deng Ran was distressed and swallowed a mouthful of saliva, no longer making a sound.

  To further investigate whether the pile of mixed fertilizer with a buried body had any direct evidence related to the case, the trace identification group, which was only one wall away from the forensic office, actually moved the entire pile of mixed fertilizer back. At this moment, their laboratory was filled with a strong and pungent smell unique to the mixed fertilizer. However, these patient young men were carefully sifting through every inch of the fertilizer with small sieves, trying not to miss anything. As they found more and more "spoils", their expressions became increasingly serious. Soon, the table was filled with large and small bottles, as well as various evidence-specific single-use seal bags containing rotten cloth, suspected glasses frames, watches... Today, they would have to identify and inspect these hard-won "treasures" one by one. A lot of information related to the deceased might be inside.

  In the Major Crimes Unit office, Wang Yan was carefully studying the topographic map near the flower base. Assistant Wang Yan pushed the door and walked in.

  "Good news, Wang team. After the simulated portrait was released on TV, someone called soon after and identified the deceased as Zhao Youmei, a female employee of Yuanxing Electronics Factory near Xianhua Base. She reportedly went missing after finishing her shift a week ago."

  "Alright." As soon as he heard this, Wang Yan immediately regained his energy. "Notify the trace identification team to go to the electronics factory immediately to extract the deceased's DNA and bring it back for comparison."

  Wang Yan was about to turn around and leave when Wang Ya Nan called out to her again: "Wait, tell Ah Wang to come over here right away."

  Awang is Wang Yanan's right-hand man in the Major Crimes Unit. The two have been partners for nearly ten years. He has a sturdy build, but has a kind heart like a Bodhisattva.