The stone statue containing the corpse is hollow inside, and the two parts are glued together with strong adhesive. After grinding the seams, it looks like a complete statue from the outside.

Lu Chuan is currently collecting materials from inside the statue.

Scanning with ultraviolet light was conducted, but unfortunately, no palm prints or fingerprints were found.

Or perhaps there were originally palm prints or fingerprints, but after such a long time, they have long disappeared.

Fingerprints or palm prints are very easily obliterated traces at a crime scene.

Compared to footprints, fingerprints are formed because human fingers secrete oils and sweat, leaving these trace materials on surfaces through finger ridges.

However, these prints only persist for a short time; as time goes on, the oils and sweat evaporate completely, and the fingerprints naturally disappear.

Generally, fingerprints left outdoors persist for a shorter time because of sunlight exposure and air flow, usually not more than half a month before the sweat and oils on the fingerprints evaporate completely, making it impossible to detect or collect them.

However, fingerprints left indoors tend to last relatively longer.

Without external interference, fingerprints left indoors can often last up to half a year or so.

Of course, this is under ideal conditions.

The interior of the statue is similar to this ideal condition, with no air flow and no external interference factors, allowing any fingerprints left by the perpetrator to potentially remain longer.

But unfortunately, there are no fingerprints inside the statue, yet it’s not devoid of findings.

"Is this... a corn kernel?"

At the bottom of the statue, Lu Chuan found a corn kernel.

Yang Sen collected the corn kernel and placed it in an evidence bag.

"Why would there be such a thing inside the statue?"

Lu Chuan frowned, somewhat puzzled: "Let’s take it back for analysis first. The corn kernel couldn’t have appeared in the statue out of nowhere; it’s very likely brought in with the corpse."

"Additionally, analyzing this corn kernel might provide geographical information, which could help the case."

The same type of crop varies in protein content and moisture content when grown in different regions.

Especially protein content, which shows significant differences depending on the region of origin, with distinctive regional characteristics.

However, Lu Chuan only has some understanding of these matters and may need the technical support from the seed industry department.

The on-site investigation continued until after 9 p.m. before concluding.

Due to the statue’s massive weight, there’s no way to transport it back to the Criminal Investigation Team.

Moreover, having completed the relevant scene investigation, Lu Chuan found it unnecessary to bring the statue back.

Wang Changjiang and Shen Yan, along with others, took the lead to transport the corpse back for autopsy.

By the time Lu Chuan and the others returned to the team, it was already 11:30 p.m.

"Notify all departments; let’s have a meeting to get on the same page."

Qin Yong immediately convened a case analysis meeting.

Except for the forensic department conducting the autopsy, all other departments were present.

"Let’s have the action group share their situation first."

Ren Qiang is still at home doing rehabilitation, with Zhang Hui still acting in his stead for the Action Group Two.

"The site of the incident is a campsite, located more than 100 kilometers from the city, with no residential areas around it, making the geographical location relatively remote."

"The entire camp was built and put into use in March last year and has been operational for just a year and a half now."

"The project is a municipal one, planned to start construction eight years ago but delayed due to a lack of funding, not breaking ground until three to five years ago, and taking over three and a half years to finish, exceeding the original schedule."

"The responsible person from the construction side has been found, with preliminary inquiries showing unawareness about the statue. The statue was installed in the campsite’s small park last New Year’s Day, lifted into place before the fountain construction."

"Currently, the search for the stone supplier from that time through the construction side is underway."

"All tourists who visited the campsite today have registered their information, but no further inquiries have been conducted."

Qin Yong nodded; the corpse is already mummified, having been dead for more than a year; there’s basically nothing suspicious about the people at the site.

Zhang Hui continued to report: "Based on current circumstances, the stone supplier should be the most suspicious."

"Consider this three-meter-high, over-a-ton-heavy statue—there’s basically no possibility of it being tampered with in the middle."

"Moreover, we saw that after the statue was broken open, the bottom layer was treated. After the corpse was inserted, both top and bottom were stone, showing no signs of artificial cutting."

"From this point, the only ones who could have tampered with the statue must be the stone sculpting vendors."

"So, whoever sculpted the statue is most likely the perpetrator."

Although the investigation done by the action side is limited, it’s very telling.

Because the medium containing the corpse is too unusual.

This is the first time for all participating detectives to encounter a scenario involving a three-meter-tall, one-ton-heavy stone statue hiding a body inside.

But precisely because the statue is so tall and heavy, apart from being able to manipulate it during the sculpting phase, it would be tough to hide a body inside without alerting anyone at any other time.

Qin Yong agreed with Zhang Hui’s assessment.

"Action Group Two, tomorrow you will focus on tracking this lead; it’s crucial to find the source of the statue."

"Yes!"

This is what Zhang Hui was already intending to do.

"What clues does the Crime Scene Investigation have?"

The speaker is Liu Guodong; this time, Lu Chuan did not attend the case analysis meeting as he is still conducting experiments in the lab.

"First, regarding the deceased’s identity, it remains undetermined. The forensic team is conducting the autopsy, and we’ve obtained samples, currently undergoing DNA identification and analysis."

"Lu Chuan also collected fingerprints from the body, despite the difficulty, and is working on fingerprint comparisons."

"Second, we found a corn kernel inside the statue. Since we lack the necessary equipment, we’ve requested a seed company to assist in analyzing and identifying the corn’s origin."

While most were attending the case analysis meeting, in the forensic autopsy room, Wang Changjiang and Shen Yan were examining and determining the cause and time of death.

"There are no injuries on the corpse’s surface, but the hyoid bone is fractured, preliminarily determined as death by asphyxiation."

"The corpse has dehydrated rapidly, and the period of weathering is not very certain."

"Master, there’s an insoluble mass in the stomach; I’ll conduct toxicological testing to check for poisoning possibilities."

"Also, the liver requires a biopsy, so let’s check that too."

This autopsy was jointly conducted by Wang Changjiang and Shen Yan.

Due to the desiccated, hardened condition of the corpse, a regular dissection scalpel can’t cut through the outer layers; thus, a power saw must be used.

Such autopsy experiences are extremely rare; mummified bodies in Haizhou City are exceedingly uncommon.