frightfiction Chapter 865 The Van's Trail, A Turning Point in the Case
Chapter 865 The Van's Trail, A Turning Point in the Case
The team leader in charge of investigating interpersonal relationships stated, "After collecting DNA, fingerprints, and footprints from all the classmates, colleagues, and acquaintances of the deceased Song Chenhao and Song Juanjuan, and comparing them one by one, we still found nothing. I'm wondering if the murderer is a stranger they met by chance, or someone they contacted through some special channels, someone outside the scope of our routine investigation?"
Li Ming nodded: "That's possible. Then we'll readjust our investigation strategy and expand the scope of our investigation. We should include not only people they knew, but also all strangers who appeared in the vicinity of the village before and after the incident. In addition, we should carefully examine the traces at the scene to see if we can find any new clues."
After the meeting, the officers, though filled with frustration, rallied their spirits and returned to work. Looking at the unchanged comparison screen on the computer, Xiao Zhang felt a mix of emotions: "Are we really going to keep searching blindly like this? When will we find the killer and give the victim some justice?" Xiao Wang patted him on the shoulder: "Don't be discouraged. This is what we police officers do. No matter how difficult it is, we have to persevere. Maybe the next second will bring a turning point."
During a further investigation of the deceased's social circle, officers discovered a seemingly insignificant clue. While working, Song Juanjuan had participated in an interest group where she met people from different places. This group occasionally organized offline gatherings, but Song Juanjuan had rarely attended since getting married. The officers quickly collected information on the group's members, preparing for a new round of DNA and fingerprint comparisons. Although no one was certain this clue would lead to a breakthrough, this glimmer of hope rekindled their fighting spirit in this seemingly hopeless case.
The DNA collection and comparison of all individuals related to Song Juanjuan and Li Chenhao was completed, but the results remained disappointing. Members of the interest group were also investigated one by one, but none of their DNA matched the DNA of the suspect extracted from the crime scene. A heavy atmosphere enveloped the entire criminal investigation team, and the officers' eyes revealed exhaustion and confusion.
The team leader in charge of the investigation reported to Li Ming with a helpless expression: "Team Leader Li, we've investigated everyone we can think of, but there are still no results. This case is like a fog; we seem unable to get out of it." Li Ming patted him on the shoulder and comforted him: "Don't be discouraged. Let's review the previous clues again. There must be something we've overlooked."
Just when everyone felt helpless, the task force tracking the minivan finally brought exciting news. While checking several gas stations around Jianshe Township, the officers found traces of the minivan they had been searching for in the surveillance footage of one of the gas stations. Although the surveillance footage was somewhat blurry, the minivan's distinctive shape and the obscured license plate made it instantly recognizable to the officers.
The task force quickly analyzed the surveillance footage and, through technical means, successfully identified the van's license plate number. With the license plate number in hand, the police acted swiftly, locating the van driver that same evening and making his arrest. When the officers surrounded the van driver, he appeared terrified and bewildered.
After bringing the van driver back to the police station, the interrogation immediately began. Inside the interrogation room, the lights were glaring. The van driver sat in the interrogation chair, his hands cuffed, his eyes darting around. Li Ming and another experienced interrogator sat opposite him, their gazes piercing.
"Do you know why I arrested you?" Li Ming spoke first, his voice deep and powerful.
The van driver swallowed hard and stammered, "I...I don't know, I didn't do anything serious."
Li Ming showed him the surveillance screenshots from the area around the crime scene and the surveillance video from the gas station: "This is your car, right? It was near Lijia Village on the night of the incident. You still say you didn't commit any crime?"
The van driver's face turned deathly pale instantly. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "I...I admit I went to Lijia Village that night, but I really didn't do anything wrong. I just went to steal dogs."
The interrogator scoffed, "Stealing a dog? Do you think we'd believe that? This is a murder scene; don't try to fool us."
The van driver waved his hands frantically, tears welling up in his eyes: "Officer, I'm telling the truth. I am a dog thief. I often drive around the nearby villages, and I'll steal any dogs that look good. That night, I saw a big wolfhound in Lijia Village and thought I'd steal it to sell for money. I really didn't do anything else."
Li Ming stared intently into his eyes, trying to discern the truth from his expression: "Then why did you cover your license plate?"
The van driver lowered his head and said in a low voice, "I'm just afraid of being discovered. Stealing dogs is illegal, and I'm afraid of getting caught."
The interrogator then asked, "Did you see anything unusual or hear anything unusual in the village?"
The van driver recalled, "I was only focused on finding the dog and didn't pay much attention to anything else. I thought I heard some arguing, but I didn't think much of it and assumed it was just the villagers having a fight. After I stole the dog, I drove off quickly."
Li Ming and the interrogator exchanged a glance. Judging from the van driver's reaction, he didn't seem to be lying. But to be on the safe side, they decided to further verify his statement. On one hand, they arranged for officers to investigate the van driver's past records to see if he really had a prior conviction for dog theft; on the other hand, they conducted an investigation of the locations he mentioned for dog thefts, looking for relevant evidence.
After investigation, police officers discovered that the van driver did indeed have multiple prior convictions for dog theft, and they found evidence matching his descriptions at the locations he claimed to have stolen dogs, such as dog hair and leftover dog-stealing tools. It seems the van driver was indeed just a dog thief and had no direct connection to the murder.
Although the result was somewhat disappointing for the police, it also strengthened their resolve to find the real killer. Li Ming convened another meeting with the task force, saying, "Although the van driver is not the killer, this serves as a reminder that we cannot overlook any detail. Next, we need to readjust our investigation direction, starting with traces at the scene and details of the deceased's daily life, and dig deep into every possible clue."
The investigation has reached a point where all available leads have been traced, but there is still no valuable direction for progress. There are no clear clues or fingerprints, and although there is DNA information, the suspect has not been identified.
And just then, an unexpected clue was finally discovered.