The technical work in forensic science has shown major breakthroughs.

"Teacher, we've identified the identity of one of the skeletal remains among the seven."

Extracting DNA information from bones has become increasingly advanced with technological progress.

In the past, DNA extraction from bones could only be done from the bone marrow, later it could also be extracted from the bone itself.

Of course, this requires higher purity of skeletal genetic material and higher precision of the analysis instruments.

Zhang Yuanchao took the identification report, somewhat surprised.

The identified skeletal remains weren't matched from the missing persons list.

Instead, it was matched with a previous DNA paternity test in the system, where the bone's DNA was homologous with the father from the test.

This means they are brothers.

"First, send the results to Director Li, they may find it useful."

In less than five minutes, the matching results reached Li Donglin's hands.

The frontline arrest and interrogation were proceeding at lightning speed.

Back then, all the people in charge of the bridge construction were unaware of these matters.

Moreover, there was something peculiar, the workers responsible for the bridge pier pouring at the time were three individuals, but none have been found.

Now, one of them has been located.

Zhang Wanzhang, from Lingshui County, went out to work thirty years ago, and was never heard from again.

His family reported him missing, but he was working in Qinzhou City, just without earning much money, and he never returned home all these years.

The missing person report filed back then naturally went unresolved.

Unexpectedly, fifteen years ago, Zhang Wanzhang, who was working on the construction site of the Minghe Bridge, ended up being encased in the bridge pier he poured himself.

With the identity clue of the first individual, the identification of the other skeletal remains soon took a direction.

The three workers responsible for pouring the bridge piers resigned suddenly back then, and searching for them now has been futile.

It appears they might all have been encased in the bridge piers.

Forensic laboratory.

Lu Chuan had also obtained the desired results from his experiment on the ossification time of the skeletal remains.

Combined with the chicken leg experiment on the concrete of the bridge pier, Lu Chuan deduced the ossification time within the bridge pier.

Among them, six bodies did not deviate too much in timing and matched the period of concrete pouring, but the corpse numbered six was different.

Compared to the others, this skeletal's ossification time was longer.

This posed a problem.

According to the forensic surface inspection results on the bones, the deceased were poured into the bridge pier shortly after death.

Moreover, based on the skeletal markings, the cause of death was roughly determined.

But the ossification time of the sixth skeletal remains seemed shorter than the others.

In the dissection room, the seven skeletal remains lay side by side on the ground as Lu Chuan observed them once more.

"Did you discover anything?"

Zhang Yuanchao stood by Lu Chuan's side, watching as he closely observed the seven bodies.

Lu Chuan nodded and pointed to the skeletal remains number five next to number six.

"Both of these remains were found in the second bridge pier, with the same external environment for the bones' ossification."

Zhang Yuanchao nodded, the first four skeletal remains were found in the first bridge pier, while numbers five, six, and seven were found in the second bridge pier.

Under normal conditions, with the same external factors, the ossification time should be about the same, or even if there were differences, they shouldn't be substantial.

At least, it should not be noticeable to the naked eye after fifteen years.

"The pouring of the bridge piers to ensure quality must have been done in one shot."

Zhang Yuanchao's meaning was clear to Lu Chuan.

Just like the conclusion drawn by Zhang Yuanchao's students after inspecting the skeletal surfaces.

These skeletal remains, whether alive or dead, were all poured into the pier at the same time.

Of course, the pouring into the pier at the same time doesn't mean in an instant.

It means before the concrete sets, the pouring takes place, and most of the time, the concrete used is brought in by the same truck.

Or at least produced in the same batch.

The reason is to maximally ensure uniformity in the designation of concrete in the same pier.

Since even under the same standards and mechanical control, concrete from different batches can have slight differences.

Of course, achieving this in reality is rare, unless with strict supervision and strong oversight.

"The ossification marks on this body are heavier than the others, or in simpler terms, the ossification time within the concrete was shorter."

Lu Chuan frowned: "This is somewhat illogical."

Zhang Yuanchao nodded: "There are many reasons for this, such as if the deceased took special medications or had specific diseases, both could cause such a situation."

"Yes, a detailed analysis is required, I suspect drug abuse, testing is needed."

For identifying skeletal remains, in many cases, it's hard to make accurate judgments purely by observation.

Often, instrument assistance is necessary.

The verification results greatly astonished Lu Chuan and Zhang Yuanchao.

A large amount of aliphatic fentanyl was found within the bones of the sixth body.

"A drug addict?"

Approximately twenty years ago, fentanyl-related drugs were already categorized as controlled substances.

These medications, known back then as new psychoactive substances, when used excessively, had excitatory, hallucinogenic, and narcotic effects.

Twenty years ago, any use of such drugs had to be documented and was limited in quantity.

With years of forensic practice, Zhang Yuanchao had seen more than one drug addict.

Moreover, detecting it in the bones even after fifteen years must be a result of long-term heavy use.

"Overusing such substances leaves residual components that erode the bones, hence the color difference in the sixth skeletal remains."

"Report this to Director Li, fifteen years ago, these drugs were already regulated, any heavy use should have historical records, investigate it, we might identify the individual."

While one of the seven skeletal remains has been identified, the other two are currently suspected to be workers who poured the bridge piers back then.

DNA samples from their relatives have been collected for comparison as of now.

However, the other four bodies have yet to have any leads on their identities.

Upon receiving the information, Li Donglin immediately instructed the Qinzhou Criminal Investigation Team to investigate.

Mass usage of aliphatic fentanyl, if not due to drug addiction, must be due to a hospital prescription, and such medications come with a red prescription label.

In any hospital, red prescription drugs have a saying that aligns with finding the person if they're alive or dead if they're not.

Even after more than ten years, it should be possible to track usage records.

Soon, detectives in charge of the investigation located related medication usage records in the medication management system of Qinzhou City First People's Hospital.

From fifteen years ago to now, only five patients have heavily used aliphatic fentanyl.

Among them, two are still alive and regularly receive treatment.

The other two died of illness ten and thirteen years ago, respectively.

Only one patient started treatment eighteen years ago but abruptly stopped fifteen years ago.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.