The Forensic Doctor Better Than a Detective

After listening to Jiang An’s clear and logically rigorous analysis, Political Commissioner Li and Director Hou both nodded slightly at the same time and exchanged a knowing look.

Political Commissioner Li gently closed the notebook in his hand, pondered for a moment with a grave expression, then spoke in a deep voice: ”The key points Mr. Jiang just analyzed do indeed precisely strike at the core doubts we are facing in our current investigative work.”

”The professional competence, keen insight, and systematic working methods demonstrated by the Jiangcheng Criminal Investigation Team in the course of handling this case are very much worth our in‑depth study and emulation.”

After a brief pause, his gaze slowly swept over everyone present, and he went on: ”In that case, I propose that we all go together to the original Crime Scene for an on‑site re‑inspection.”

”No matter how detailed the case files are, written text and diagrams are ultimately flat and static.”

”Only by personally going to the scene of the crime, placing ourselves in that specific environment, feeling the spatial layout, lighting conditions, ambient odors, and even the details of every blade of grass and tree, can we activate our investigative intuition and capture those subtle pieces of information that cannot be reflected on paper.”

”This kind of ’sense of presence’ is often precisely the key to breaking a deadlock.”

Director Hou, hearing this, took up the thread of conversation with deep approval: ”Political Commissioner Li is absolutely right.”

”For those of us in criminal investigation, what we value most is this kind of on‑scene intuition.”

”Physical evidence speaks, but only if we stand ’in front of it’ to listen.”

”Many clues are hidden in the minutiae of the environment; only through on‑site observation and personal experience can we transform flat information into a three‑dimensional, dynamic line of thought for solving the case.”

Having said this, he turned to look at Jiang An beside him and asked sincerely: ”Mr. Jiang, what do you think?”

With a firm gaze, Jiang An nodded without hesitation and replied: ”That suits me perfectly.”

”I’ve also been hoping to go to the scene in person and take a look.”

”If conditions permit, I’d like to examine the victim’s remains again—as the initial autopsy might have been constrained by the technical conditions at the time. If we can re‑examine them now, we might discover new biological evidence or patterns of trauma.”

Hearing this, Mr. Qin, standing to the side, smiled and stepped in to explain: ”The body has been very well preserved—although what’s left is only a set of White Bone.”

”We’ve always kept it in a dedicated skeletal remains container in the forensic laboratory.”

”We had originally planned, once the case was closed, to use this White Bone as a teaching specimen, since such a complete skeleton is very valuable for forensic research.”

”But now that the case remains unresolved, it is temporarily sealed as important physical evidence.”

At this, a sharp gleam flashed in Jiang An’s eyes, and he said with certainty: ”All the better.”

”As long as the skeleton is intact, we can use current technical methods to carry out more refined examinations of the bones—for example, microscopic trace analysis, isotope testing, and so on. These might reveal the victim’s activities prior to death, nutritional status, or even skeletal features caused by specific behaviors.”

At the mention of ”bones,” Mr. Qin was slightly taken aback, a trace of surprise sweeping across his face.

He leaned his body slightly forward, his tone tinged with confusion and inquiry: ”You mean... beyond the rib fractures in the chest, the skeletal aspects of this body still require more in‑depth examination and analysis?”

Jiang An nodded calmly and explained: ”Yes, they do.”

”In routine Scene Investigation, we tend to focus on the collection and verification of environmental evidence.”

”When we focus our attention on skeletal injuries, especially the morphological characteristics of fractures, they can often reveal a great deal of critical information.”

”For example, the direction of a fracture line can reflect the direction and angle of the external force; the morphology of the fracture can allow us to infer the characteristics of the injuring object; and the distribution pattern of multiple fractures can even help us reconstruct the victim’s position and state at the time they were subjected to violence.”

”These details are of vital significance for our subsequent determination of the nature of the case and reconstruction of the crime process.”

These words brought a flash of realization to Mr. Qin’s eyes, and a strong interest surfaced on his face.

”Mr. Jiang, after your analysis, I’ve suddenly developed a strong curiosity about the field of skeletal analysis.”

”You come from a forensic background to begin with, and you must have unique insights in forensic anthropology and injury mechanism analysis.”

”To be honest, our Criminal Investigation Team really does need to do more learning in this area.”

Hearing this, Jiang An smiled faintly and reached up to straighten his collar: ”In that case, why don’t we set off now and go back to the scene to carefully examine the condition of the remains?”

”In many instances, combining a secondary on‑scene inspection with the environment allows us to gain a more three‑dimensional understanding of skeletal injuries, which is crucial for accurately characterizing the case.”

Just as they were standing up, the other colleagues in the office also rose to their feet one after another.

Mr. Qin glanced around the room and raised his voice: ”Colleagues, if you don’t have any urgent tasks at hand, you’re welcome to come to the scene and take part in the inspection.”

”Of course, if you have personal arrangements, you can attend to them as needed.”

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone present responded in unison: ”We’re all free—we’d really like to go along to learn and observe!”

Political Commissioner Li turned to look at the dense crowd of more than forty people from the Criminal Investigation Team, the corner of his mouth twitching involuntarily. With a wry smile, he said: ”Looks like we’ll have to arrange the bureau’s coach. Let’s all take the bus together.”

Next to him, Director Hou laughed and said: ”That works too—the more people, the greater the strength.”