CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 44: THE OLD TRAGEDY REOPENED

After the merit award ceremony, Li Jian said, "Everyone heard Mr. Ma’s instructions just now."

"Later, let’s bring over the file of the family massacre from eight years ago."

"During the meeting, let’s study the case of that year together."

Fifteen minutes later, a very worn-looking cowhide file was brought in.

The edges and corners of the file were severely scuffed, with some parts even falling off.

On the meeting room’s projector screen, photos of the crime scene investigation and autopsy from that year were being displayed.

Seeing these materials, many people’s brows furrowed.

After all, many of the criminal investigation officers present had participated in the investigation of this case.

Later on, the investigation team reviewed this case multiple times.

The entire investigation team was thoroughly familiar with the case file on the meeting table, even to the point of saying they knew it inside out.

During previous case discussions, they would always review the case again and again, just like reheating a dish, having done so many times.

Jiang An was the only one unfamiliar with the case.

Li Jian pushed the file on the table towards Jiang An.

He said softly, "The file is thick, you can take your time to look through it."

Jiang An took the file and opened the first page.

In the section of case brief information, the basic situation documented could be seen: "On May 21st, a report was received, that someone was found dead in No. 1, first floor, Building 7, Lakefront Harbor, Jiangcheng District. On-duty officers went to verify and confirmed four deaths at the residence, namely a couple and the wife’s mother and sister."

Immediately, Jiang An looked up, seeing an image from the center of the crime scene opened on the projector screen.

One could see a man and a woman lying on the living room floor.

Investigation team officer Wan introduced, "This is the first photo upon entering."

"The man and woman lying in the living room are the couple, both wearing pajamas."

"The man was stabbed seven times, mainly concentrated on the chest and neck area, with the cause of death being multiple puncture wounds from a sharp object leading to hemorrhagic shock."

"The woman was stabbed six times, with wounds concentrated on the neck and face, including one facial stab wound spanning both cheeks."

Immediately, Wan clicked on the next close-up photo, which seemed quite gruesome.

Both deceased had blood all over them, turning their white pajamas almost completely red.

Especially the horizontal wound on the woman’s face, which split open in the middle due to skin tension, revealing some fragmented bones at the base of the long crack.

Jiang An temporarily set down the file, focusing on the images.

Compared to the textual record in the file, the images of the crime scene were more direct and provided richer information.

This is why Jiang An always focused on the primary crime scenes.

Every physical evidence at the original scene, whether footprints, bloodstains, fingerprints, or other traces, was essential for reconstructing the death process later.

At this moment, everyone attending the meeting was focused, staring at the projector screen.

No one was distracted despite having seen these case photos many times before.

This might be the sense of mission in criminal investigation.

As long as the perpetrator was not caught, each time was a new beginning.

Wan moved the mouse, saying, "This is a photo of Bedroom No. 1."

"This woman is the wife’s sister, 24 years old, a nurse at the maternity hospital, who took a day off before the incident to visit her sister and mother, and unfortunately encountered the tragedy."

"There aren’t any open wounds on the sister’s body, the skin is intact, and the cause of death is mechanical asphyxia caused by strangulation, with signs of assault on the lower body."

"The wardrobe and drawers in Bedroom No. 1 were also open, with signs of the woman’s shoulder bag being searched, and the quarterly bonus of 2000 yuan missing."

Jiang An looked up and saw the girl wearing pajamas, with only a small amount of blood on them, the upper half of the pajamas pushed up above the chest, and the lower half of the pants pushed down below the knees.

Wan continued to move the mouse, saying, "This is a photo inside Bedroom No. 2."

"She is the wife’s mother, who has lived in the home for many years."

"This shows the original posture of the deceased, covered with a blanket."

"According to forensic analysis, her cause of death was asphyxia due to smothering of the nose and mouth."

"However, this elderly mother had no wounds on her body."

"The wardrobe in this room also showed signs of being searched."

Jiang An focused on the image, suddenly noticing a pair of slippers beside the bed in the lower right corner.

The slippers were at the bedside, somewhat in disarray, with the shape seeming somewhat sunken at the top edge of the bed.

Wan moved the mouse, then continued, "This is a photo inside the master bedroom."

"The curtain in the master bedroom was drawn together, and the wardrobe and drawers were all opened, with the safe at the back of the wardrobe pried open."

"Since all adults in the home were dead, it was impossible to determine the missing items."

Then, Wan presented the second part of the case.

"According to the interviews and investigations, there was no surveillance installed in the community eight years ago."

"On the night of the incident, the residents of the second and third floors were not home, and above the fourth floor, no significant shouting was heard."

"There was no evidence of enemies in the couple’s furniture and wood business in the old city."

"The sister was a hospital nurse, having graduated two years before, and had a boyfriend working at a bank."

"The elderly mother lived long-term in her eldest daughter’s home, her partner passed away three years before, and she was generally kind and easy-going, without having conflicts before the incident."

"Back then, the special task force determined the case as burglary that turned into robbery and murder based on the scene and the bodies, but no progress was ever made."

After the brief PPT introduction, Li Jian said solemnly, "The introduction just now was mainly to help everyone recall the overall situation of the case."

"All detailed information is recorded in the file."

After a brief pause, he said, "This case was identified as a burglary turning into robbery and murder, but remaining unsolved for a long time despite our search for all local individuals with robbery and theft records without finding suspicious individuals."

"This case has been a stumbling block for our investigation team."

"I hope everyone can think proactively, use your intelligence, provide suggestions, and collectively find a breakthrough in this case."

After speaking, the officers in the venue began to whisper to each other.

Jiang An narrowed his eyes slightly, his mind reviewing all the images just seen.

Starting from the living room upon entering, Bedroom No. 1, Bedroom No. 2, and finally the master bedroom.

From the objects at the scene to the wardrobes and drawers being opened.

From the corpses of the couple in the living room, to the sister and elderly mother in the bedrooms.

...

Ten minutes later, Li Jian spoke, "We’ve discussed this case many times, does anyone have any new insights?"

After a while, seeing no one volunteering opinions, Li Jian turned and looked at Jiang An.

"Comrade Jiang An, this is your first time discussing this old case, share your thoughts and insights."

Jiang An’s thoughts were immediately brought back.

He straightened his back, and said solemnly: "Mr. Li, my viewpoint differs from the task force’s."

"I don’t believe this was a case of burglary turning into robbery."