381: Chapter 381 Successfully Locked the Range

Qin Chuan glanced at Secretary Wang Dafei and inquired, "Secretary Wang, what do you plan to do next?"

Secretary Wang Dafei said, "No matter what, this case must be solved, though it might take a bit more time."

Secretary Wang Dafei didn't have a clear plan for the next steps yet, but he could convene a meeting. Three heads are better than one, and besides, the Provincial Public Security Department had so many experts.

Qin Chuan smiled. "Secretary Wang, I actually have a good idea that you could put into action."

"Oh?"

Secretary Wang Dafei's eyes lit up slightly as hope rose in his heart.

Although he hadn't spent much time with Qin Chuan, the man had deeply impressed many people over the last two days. Especially with the resolution of the bank robbery, even Secretary Wang Dafei felt a bit of admiration.

"Comrade Qin Chuan, what method do you have? Please tell us quickly."

Qin Chuan didn't keep them in suspense. "It's simple: conduct blood sample collection. If you move quickly, you can probably finish the majority of Xizhou City's ten million plus people in three to five days."

Blood sample collection was a practice that had only recently begun to be implemented domestically, barely a few months ago. So far, Northwest Province had completed the collection for about one-fiftieth of the population, roughly seven to eight million people.

This work had a major benefit: once everyone's blood type and DNA entered the database, it would not only be a huge help in solving cases but also in the fight against human trafficking.

For instance, if hair, skin flakes, or blood were left at a crime scene, once the DNA was tested and compared against the database, the killer could be identified.

Naturally, the more people sampled, the better. If seventy to eighty percent of Northwest Province had completed blood collection and had their DNA information in the database, this serial murder case might have already been solved.

Secretary Wang Dafei's eyes brightened. "Right, Comrade Qin Chuan is correct. We will immediately push for city-wide, even province-wide, mass blood collection."

One leader reminded them, "Secretary Qin, your suggestion is good, but I'm worried that even if we push this work, the killer will realize at a glance that DNA collection is required. He won't cooperate and will evade the collection."

It was currently impossible to achieve one hundred percent collection; there were always a small number of people who couldn't be sampled for various reasons.

If the killer realized they wanted his DNA, he certainly wouldn't come to be sampled. He would become a fish that slipped through the net, making it impossible to compare his DNA or determine who the short hair from the crime scene belonged to.

Qin Chuan smiled. "If the killer doesn't cooperate and evades blood collection, there's nothing we can do about that. However, as long as we complete the collection for the majority of people, we can use DNA fragments to determine which surname he belongs to, or even narrow it down to a specific clan."

Within the same clan, many DNA fragments are identical or similar due to heredity. If they could determine which clan the killer belonged to, the scope would be greatly narrowed.

Once that small scope was determined, the killer could be found through a process of elimination.

This leader also had a sudden realization. "Secretary Qin has thought of everything. This method is feasible. We will begin city-wide and province-wide blood collection immediately."

There was no time to lose.

Secretary Wang Dafei personally presided over the meeting and made a series of arrangements. The work was launched immediately. Soon, community police, Police Stations, and even community workers were all busy.

The mass blood collection work began first throughout Xizhou City. Community police and community workers went deep into every neighborhood, and the same was true for rural cadres in the outskirts, who went into every village.

There was strength in numbers, and the work progressed very rapidly. A massive amount of DNA data was entered into computers, while technicians worked day and night to compare and analyze DNA fragments.

Evening.

Secretary Wang Dafei brought several leaders from the Provincial Public Security Department to treat Qin Chuan and the others to drinks and dinner.

After a few drinks, the conversation inevitably turned back to work, especially the serial murder case.

"Comrade Qin Chuan, I think your method is feasible. I have a hunch that in two or three days at most, the comparison work might yield results."

Qin Chuan said with confidence, "I hope so. If this case isn't solved, the public will remain in a state of panic, and that simply won't do!"

Besides discussing this case, they also talked about several other cold cases. Under Qin Chuan's guidance and oversight, these cases had achieved significant breakthroughs, giving everyone great confidence in solving them.

Within the Northwest Province police system, Qin Chuan's prestige was growing higher and higher. Some of those involved in criminal investigation almost regarded Qin Chuan as a god in their hearts, looking at him with obvious admiration.

A few days later.

During these few days, two more cold cases from years ago were successfully solved, both of which were inextricably linked to Qin Chuan.

As another cold case was solved and the killer was caught, Secretary Wang Dafei rushed over excitedly. His first words upon pushing the door open were, "Comrade Qin Chuan, you are truly amazing! The Second Pharmaceutical Factory Arson Case has been successfully solved!"

This was the fifth cold case solved in just a few days. With one cold case after another being resolved, it was no wonder Secretary Wang Dafei was so happy.

With this expression and joyful manner, he didn't look like a member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee or the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission; he looked more like a criminal investigator who had just started working, only a bit older.

Qin Chuan gave a modest smile. "I only offered a bit of advice. The main credit goes to all of you."

"Comrade Qin Chuan, you are too modest," Secretary Wang Dafei said. "There's more good news. We've collected a massive amount of data over the last few days. After comparison and analysis, we've locked onto a range. There's a village called Gaojiawan where their DNA fragments are a high match for the DNA fragments from the short hair at the crime scene."

Qin Chuan's interest was piqued immediately. "That means the killer is someone from Gaojiawan!"

"Yes, the killer is from Gaojiawan!" Secretary Wang Dafei said. "I have already issued the order and deployed a large police force to head straight for Gaojiawan."

Qin Chuan was slightly startled. Was he that eager?

But it was understandable. For a serial murder case that had gone unsolved for years, once there was a lead and it was certain the person was from Gaojiawan, how could they wait? They had to secure the area first.

Gaojiawan wasn't far, located in the suburbs of Xizhou City. It was an ordinary mountain village with about two to three hundred households, totaling roughly seven to eight hundred people.

Like many villages, it was mostly populated by the elderly, women, and children, as the able-bodied youth were mostly away working.

Because it was not far from the urban area of Xizhou City—only a few dozen kilometers—many chose to work or do business within Xizhou City itself.

Under the old camphor tree at the entrance of the village, quite a few elderly people and women had gathered, chatting about trivial village matters.

Suddenly, someone noticed with astonishment.

On the road leading to the village entrance, many police cars had arrived, including Special Police vehicles. The line seemed almost endless; there were at least a dozen or so vehicles, if not twenty or thirty.

Seeing this scene.

The group was collectively stunned, watching the vehicles approach without moving a muscle. Their faces were filled with shock, completely unable to understand what was going on.