Chapter 295

"I received the message at 1 p. ., arrived by 2 p. ., and then had the rectal temperature taken. 34. degrees."

Ye Tianhe didn't waste time—he pulled out the data he'd recorded upon arrival.

Determining an approximate time of death is relatively easy, but arriving at an accurate, especially a precise, conclusion is extremely difficult.

Even just rectal temperature alone involves complex factors. In 1984, the ministry assembled a body temperature research team to study the relationship between rectal temperature and time of death using data from 581 corpses at temperatures ranging from 0 to 30 degrees Celsius, ultimately deriving 27 ternary regression equations.

Most subsequent domestic body temperature studies have been based on this one, because getting another 500 corpses for such research is simply too hard. To have that many corpses for rectal temperature studies would be like Sun Wukong paralyzing the Seven Fairies just to steal a peach.

That said, few people actually remember all 27 ternary regression equations. Everyone just looks them up when they need to use them.

More importantly, most forensic pathologists use simplified versions of these regression equations. Some don't even bother with the equations—they rely purely on experience, like assuming a drop of one degree per hour, or 0. degrees, and the more meticulous ones further adjust for ambient temperature, which is usually sufficient.

So when Ye Tianhe saw Jiang Yuan's serious, confident demeanor, he stopped arguing and simply handed over the data: if you can calculate it, go ahead and calculate it.

But Jiang Yuan merely grunted and said, "Rectal temperature isn't decisive."

Only then did Ye Tianhe remember that Jiang Yuan hadn't even taken the rectal temperature.

You didn't even measure rectal temperature—and now you're trying to pin down an exact time of death?

Ye Tianhe only thought of Yu Wenshu and didn't want to be the man sticking out his foot.

But Ye Tianhe had his pride—he said directly, "Then measure liver temperature."

Liver temperature is far more accurate than rectal temperature, but it's invasive—you have to make an incision in the waist, compromising the body's surface integrity.

According to domestic practice, in such cases, the family must be informed. Moreover, forensic pathologists generally prefer to perform such invasive procedures back in the autopsy room, which reduces immediacy compared to rectal temperature. So unless absolutely necessary, everyone prefers rectal temperature—it's usually sufficient.

Now, with a time discrepancy, Ye Tianhe no longer hesitated—he demanded liver temperature be measured.

Wan Baoming, however, hesitated. He cleared his throat twice and said, "Let me consult with Team Leader Ma."

Team Leader Ma was the captain of the Second Unit of the Criminal Investigation Brigade. After confirming it was a homicide, he arrived immediately. But since the victim's husband was the prime suspect, Ma hadn't shown himself yet; everyone continued pretending it was a suicide. Wan Baoming's hesitation lay here: asking the husband about liver temperature measurement would easily alert him. This decision had to be made by Ma, the on-site commander.

Wan Baoming made one phone call, and less than two minutes later, Ma Jiyang walked in, changed into a different shirt.

"I heard there's a discrepancy in the time?" Ma Jiyang was a sturdy man with long legs; his police pants were clean, clearly catering to the victim's family's ignorance—if they'd known better, they'd have instantly recognized his appearance as that of a man with a devoted wife, or perhaps the husband himself was the devoted one—far from the typical grassroots police officer.

Wan Baoming rushed to speak: "The time difference isn't much—just about an hour—but Jiang Yuan's judgment excludes the victim's husband."

"That doesn't necessarily exclude him," Ma Jiyang thought quickly and carefully, then asked, "The victim's husband came home around 11: 0 to 12: 0, captured by the elevator camera. Jiang Yuan, what time do you estimate the death occurred?"

"Ten fifteen," Jiang Yuan said.

"That precise?" Ma Jiyang looked at Jiang Yuan. His Second Unit handled homicide cases frequently—in fact, some of the cold cases Jiang Yuan had solved were ones Ma had originally handled.

Jiang Yuan had cracked a case Ma himself had failed to solve, and done so brilliantly—Ma was genuinely impressed.

So now, seeing Jiang Yuan, Ma instinctively granted him extra trust.

But Jiang Yuan had just given an exact number, leaving Ma momentarily stunned.

Jiang Yuan grunted. What was there to say? Level 6 was just that powerful—within six hours of death, he could directly state the exact time of death.

Ma didn't wait for an explanation—he thought better of it: what difference would an explanation make anyway?

Out of politeness, Ma turned to Ye Tianhe and spoke more warmly: "Ye forensic pathologist, what's your analysis?"

"Eleven to twelve," Ye Tianhe said, no longer mentioning ten fifteen.

His rectal temperature reading stood as it was; the rigor mortis state also matched the timeframe. Any normal forensic pathologist would reach nearly the same conclusion.

Ma grunted and said, "So it's only a 45-minute difference. As for whether the victim's husband has an alibi… the elevator footage shows him returning around 11: 0, but that doesn't rule out him returning at 10: 0 or again at 11: 0."

Wan Baoming reminded him, "We should carefully check the husband's time of departure from work."

"Right, if he's lying, the punch-in time at work could be faked too," Ma said, though his expression grew heavier. Then, suddenly, he smiled and added, "By the way, you said you wanted to measure liver temperature?"

"Let's measure liver temperature to clarify," Wan Baoming explained. Ma grunted: "Go ahead—we're already here."

"Should we inform the victim's husband?"

"Don't tell him. Just measure it. The body will be taken back anyway—no need to stir up trouble."

With Ma's decision made, Ye Tianhe and the others no longer hesitated. They pulled out the liver temperature probe and inserted it.

"32. degrees," Ye Tianhe read out, calculated silently, and confirmed it supported his judgment. He asked Jiang Yuan, "Jiang forensic pathologist, you want to measure it too?"

"No need. This indicates the body's overall temperature is disordered."

Ye Tianhe was speechless. "You can't say the liver temperature doesn't match expectations and then claim the body's temperature is disordered—that… you need evidence."

"Body temperature is only one criterion for determining time of death—and it's the most easily disturbed."

Jiang Yuan spoke more calmly, then added: "Look at postmortem reactions—the muscular postmortem response, changes in the cornea, rigor mortis—and pay attention to the lip retraction."

Jiang Yuan paused, then continued: "When you perform the autopsy, check the digestion state of the gastric contents, and run a toxicology screen…"

Some drugs affect body temperature—common examples include antipyretics.

Seeing Jiang Yuan so confident, Ye Tianhe had to adjust his mindset: "Alright, we'll check during the autopsy."

Jiang Yuan's goal wasn't to convince him—he stopped speaking and simply stood up, observing the scene.

Ma Jiyang asked, "What are you looking for?"

Jiang Yuan said, "The large discrepancy in time of death based on body temperature still raises questions."

"How so?"

"Many factors determine body temperature. Generally, the main ones are ambient temperature, clothing or covering, the body's substrate, ventilation, humidity, gender, age, body type, cause of death, drugs…"

Jiang Yuan listed ten factors, then added: "Of these, the latter few are relatively stable; the variable ones are the first few." Ma Jiyang closed his eyes, absorbing the crime scene's environment.

Jiang Yuan pondered: "If we consider the variable factors, the bathroom has high humidity, a ventilation fan, and this area has a fresh air system—the body is also suspended…"

Ma Jiyang opened his eyes, the weight of pressure returning: "The victim and her husband had a poor relationship; they recently argued. Their financial issues were also severe, and the victim had insurance… I'll verify his movements."

Psychologically, Ma still believed the husband was the most likely suspect.

But Jiang Yuan's recent performance made him willing to investigate further.

—to proceed with inspection

-- go to check