frightfiction Chapter 992 Skeleton Identification and Analysis
Chapter 992 Skeleton Identification and Analysis
"Expand the search area." Li Ming's voice came from behind. The beam of the survey light immediately swept around, and three meters west of the pit, Xiao Sun's powerful flashlight suddenly stopped: half a denim jeans leg was faintly visible in the loose soil. As he squatted down, his knee crushed a few dry leaves, and in the humus-mixed soil, a few strands of brown hair were tangled in the zipper of his jeans.
"Extract hair follicles for DNA testing." Xiao Sun's gloves were covered in damp mud as he cut and sealed the trouser leg along with the surrounding clod of earth. At that moment, Xiao Wang approached with a metal detector, which suddenly emitted a sharp beep. Five meters from the skeleton, under a thicket of bushes, the probe unearthed a bloodstained wrench; bits of flesh stuck in the threads gleamed eerily under the evidence lamp.
As the investigation deepened, more clues surfaced. At the bottom of the cement pipe on the east side of the excavation pit, three cigarette butts were scattered, two of which had faint pink lipstick marks on them. Xiao Yang used tweezers to number the cigarette butts one by one and found a small bite mark on the inside of the filter of one of them: "The deceased had a habit of biting his cigarette while smoking, and..." He held up the evidence bag to the light, "The nicotine deposits show that this person had been smoking for at least five years."
When technicians scanned the surrounding area with a radar detector, an unusual echo two meters underground caught their attention. The excavation continued late into the night, and a second skeleton was revealed, curled up in the same position as the first. Xiao Sun discovered crucial evidence between the ribs—a silver ring with the words "LOVE 2019" engraved on the inner band.
"The two skeletons died around the same time and both had obvious defensive wounds." Xiao Sun wrote quickly in the investigation logbook. "The second skeleton's right hand was clenched, and skin tissue was extracted from between the fingers. There was fresh bleeding at the broken nail." He held up a test tube containing tissue samples, and the liquid swayed gently under the light. "This was left from a struggle with the murderer."
At three in the morning, the on-site investigation was nearing its end. Xiao Sun labeled the last bag of soil samples and looked up at the overcast sky. Under the searchlight, the excavation pit resembled a hideous wound, and what they had unearthed from the depths of the soil was not only skeletons and physical evidence, but also a buried, bloody past.
After completing their on-site investigation, Xiao Yang and Xiao Sun changed their minds and went to the Criminal Investigation Detachment.
Although the on-site investigation didn't uncover much, and currently doesn't provide any particularly significant information, they still need to conduct further analysis of the findings.
The most important thing in a skeleton case is actually identifying the deceased. If this can be determined, the investigation is generally easier to advance. However, if the identity of the remains cannot be determined, then there is basically no hope or possibility of solving the case.
Therefore, Xiao Yang and Xiao Sun's important task is to use the clues found at the scene to provide clues and evidence for Xiao Wang and Xiao Zhou during their external investigation, so as to help them determine the identity of the deceased.
Meanwhile, in the forensic autopsy room of the Criminal Investigation Detachment, forensic doctor Zhang Lin is conducting skeletal identification and analysis on two skeletons.
Skeletal identification and analysis is a crucial technique in forensic medicine and criminal investigation. It involves systematically examining the morphological, physiological, pathological, and molecular biological characteristics of human skeletons to infer key information such as individual identity, cause of death, and time of death, providing scientific evidence for case investigation, judicial trials, or anthropological research. This process involves multidisciplinary knowledge and technology, requiring a comprehensive interpretation of skeletal remains by combining professional theory, experimental data, and practical experience.
In short, skeletal remains identification and analysis is a science that "makes bones speak." It uses multi-dimensional techniques, including anatomy, genetics, and chemistry, to transform silent bones into crucial evidence for solving cases. From tiny ossification nodules in the pubic symphysis to millimeter-level measurements of skull fractures, every detail can be the key to unlocking the mystery. With technological advancements, new technologies such as AI modeling and high-throughput sequencing continuously improve identification accuracy, but the core logic remains the same: bones are not only the framework of life but also the ultimate recorder of what happened before death.
Zhang Lin is an expert in this field, and he can provide many valuable clues and information in the details of skeleton identification and analysis.
Two skeletons gleamed coldly on the dissection table. Zhang Lin pushed his protective goggles to his forehead and first placed the skeleton numbered GX-2024-017-A on the biometer. The robotic arm emitted a soft hum and began a three-dimensional scan of the entire skeleton.
With the advancement of science and technology, criminal investigation techniques are also developing towards cutting-edge fields, such as 3D scanning. This was previously impossible or only partially possible, but now, with 3D scanning, forensic experts can conduct very detailed observation and analysis of details of ribs from all angles on a computer.
This is of great significance for further determining the cause and time of death of the deceased, and can also assist forensic doctors in making more accurate judgments.
"Initiate the morphological analysis program for the pubic symphysis surface." Zhang Lin clicked on the tablet, and the AI modeling system immediately generated a 3D image of the pubic symphysis surface. Under magnification, the bone surface showed transitional characteristics between type I and type VI, with approximately 75% ossification completion at the symphysis margin, and a distinct tongue-shaped protrusion on the ventral oblique surface. "According to the Brooks criteria, the morphology of the pubic symphysis surface conforms to the characteristics of an age group of 35-40 years old. The pubic index was calculated to be 48.6. Combined with the width of the greater sciatic notch of 1.8 cm and the acetabular depth of 2.3 cm, the individual was determined to be male."
The pubic symphysis morphology analysis program is actually a pre-programmed system that infers specific differences in bones among different skeletons, sexes, and ages based on big data analysis. These differences are input into the program and compared with the scan results to obtain relatively accurate data.
The craniometry device accurately detected a depressed fracture of the right temporal bone. Within a circular injury area with a diameter of 52.3 mm, the fracture lines exhibited a typical concentric radial distribution. "Based on Gurdjian's theory, this step-like fracture morphology suggests that the injuring object was a circular blunt instrument weighing more than 1 kg and with a contact surface diameter of approximately 5 cm." Zhang Lin gently touched the edge of the fracture with a bone probe, "and carefully observed the termination line of the fracture line. There were obvious traces of secondary force at this point, indicating that the victim had suffered multiple blows."
In the bone tissue microscopic examination room, Zhang Lin placed a femoral sample under an electron microscope. The Haversian system showed significant degeneration, with a 37% reduction in the number of bone units, a central canal diameter exceeding 150 mm, and fractures and remodeling of the trabecular bone structure. &34;