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🕑 Added 2025-03-30 06:49:08 +0000 UTCAnatomy of a Killer
Chapter 34 - Pond, Part 1
At the same time, before Sergeant Doakes could make a call to check if the water forensics team would arrive, the sudden screech of brakes from a van was heard, and Larry knew it was them.
“Well, Sergeant, I’ll let you do your job. I’ll do mine.” Larry descended the stone steps, carrying the heavy inspection case.
This pond was large, about twelve meters deep. From what he had heard, this type of pond was used for wastewater detention.
Retention or detention tanks are structures that temporarily store rainwater and wastewater. They are used in wastewater treatment plants to compensate for fluctuations in inflow.
As he approached the water’s surface, the stench of the corpse became more intense.
Ángel had originally wanted to stay out of it, but he also wanted to be involved in the investigation to stay informed about everything.
Even though breathing with the mask on was slightly unbearable, he insisted on following Larry.
Before long, he reached the water’s edge.
The package, wrapped in a silver-toned waterproof tarp, was secured with a rope tied to the side of the water pump, preventing it from drifting away.
Larry assumed that the killer had clogged the water conduit locals used for their plants. In that case, it seemed like the killer wanted this to be found.
Larry lifted the torn corner of the waterproof fabric and took a peek.
The outer wrapping consisted of at least two layers of sturdy waterproof fabric. The fastening rope, a red-and-blue outdoor safety rope, ended in a heart-shaped loop.
It was quite a strong rope, designed to withstand wear and tension without breaking easily.
However, the end floating in the water had gradually loosened. Larry reached out and pulled it out.
It was a sliding knot in the shape of a ring, but nothing was attached to its end.
“There should have been something heavy, like a rock, hanging from here. But the water pumping created a pull that separated the rope from its weight. That allowed the body to be sucked in.”
The corpse’s feet had swollen and deformed to the point where the outer skin looked like a casing over the muscle.
Larry barely lifted one end of the waterproof fabric, and the stench immediately intensified. As he examined the state of the ropes, he paused for a moment, analyzing the details.
“Ángel, get this body moved as soon as possible. Also, tell the forensic divers to search the water thoroughly. Any finding, no matter how insignificant it seems, I want it photographed and secured in an evidence bag.”
Without waiting for a response, Larry walked away from the scene, immersed in his own conclusions.
Ángel had years of experience in the field. He had worked on countless cases involving bodies carried away by the current, whether in rivers, the sea, or even on highways. He knew exactly how to act and which procedures to follow.
After all, this was Miami.
In Florida, especially in the southeast, a coastal city like this often witnessed people, whether out of desperation or intoxication, throwing themselves into the sea or rivers.
If he could, Ángel would do everything possible to raise awareness about an often-overlooked fact: bodies that emerge from the water are usually found in a horrifying state. If anyone were considering that way of dying, they would definitely change their mind.
However, it was rare to find a corpse so decomposed that it became a "giant vision."
Even without Larry saying it, Ángel was certain that this was not the only crime scene.
Clues underwater awaited the forensic divers.
Ángel nodded, suppressing the urge to vomit as he tried to maintain his composure.
"I'll go get someone. By the way, Larry, I’ll send you two photos of tire tracks later. They were found on the grass near the pond five to seven days ago."
Sergeant Doakes watched as the divers prepared to inspect the bottom of the pond while Larry finished his initial assessment of the scene.
He had already helped contact the morgue’s body transport vehicle. After all, not many were willing to do that job.
Regardless of how the body was wrapped, the vehicle would be unusable for at least a week.
The stench of a corpse can permeate everything, and there’s no escaping the smell.
Without hesitation, Larry approached Sergeant Doakes and handed him a brief report.
“Sergeant, this seems to be the spot where the body was dumped. At first glance, there aren’t many pieces of evidence we can collect. It’s also unlikely that the divers will find much more, though it’s crucial that they inspect every detail. If they find anything, no matter how small, I want to be informed immediately. As for the photographs, we must handle them with complete transparency.”
Doakes nodded firmly.
"Don't worry, I'll attend the autopsy later. Let me know as soon as you find anything that might help us in the investigation."
Larry nodded, removed his gloves after taking off his one-piece suit, and was quickly taken to the morgue, following the truck transporting the body.
"A little VapoRub will do the trick. The menthol in the ointment will get rid of the bad smell in your nose. It’ll be uncomfortable and sting a little, but it's much better than having the stench of the corpse stuck in there."
VapoRub is an ointment or inhaler used to relieve nasal congestion, cough, and muscle pain. But Larry used it on his nose—it was a habit, almost an addiction, that he liked to indulge in.
"This feels so much better..." Ángel said after applying it to his nose.
Once they arrived at the department, the morgue transporters took less than five minutes to unload the body and send it to the autopsy room, a space specifically designed for highly decomposed corpses.
The staff in the lobby opened all the front and rear doors, turning on the filters in the hopes of quickly dispersing the odor.
Even though the disinfection and air extraction system in the dissection room was extremely advanced, the smell was still unbearable.
Before getting out of the car, Max put on a mask, picked up a DSLR camera, and meticulously photographed the outer packaging along with the knots securing the corpse.
Ángel, on the other hand, jotted down any details that might aid in the investigation.
At that moment, after putting on his special work suit, Larry lowered the room’s temperature as much as possible and returned to the dissection table. He cut the rope and carefully removed the waterproof fabric wrapped around the body, following the folds of the package.
Only when the outermost layer of silver-white waterproof fabric was removed did Larry uncover the secret.
"Am I mistaken, or is this like a tent?"
Ángel agreed and said, "Let me see if there's a brand logo."
As he spoke, Ángel spread out the waterproof fabric from the outer packaging onto a nearby operating table and began inspecting it carefully.
Unfortunately, all the edges of the tarp had been cut, and its size and shape were perfect for wrapping the body.
Ángel furrowed his brows in frustration but refused to give up. After spraying a reagent inside the waterproof fabric, several palm and incomplete fingerprints gradually appeared around it.
Though they weren’t clear enough, it was still a breakthrough that made Ángel extremely pleased.
While he was busy with this, Larry had already removed the second layer of waterproof fabric. The moment it was taken off, Ángel—who had a high tolerance for corpses—felt a wave of nausea.
No type of mask could fully block out the stench.
No matter how good the ventilation was, the smell was unbearable.
"Max, increase the filtration speed!"
"On it." Max walked over to a wall-mounted control panel and adjusted the filter settings.
Ángel acted quickly, capturing several detailed photos of the body. It was then that they all noticed the deceased’s attire: a man dressed in a mid-season black shirt, a royal blue turtleneck sweater, and matching autumn pants, along with black hiking trousers.
His belt was broken, and his shirt had been bunched up to his armpits.
His pants were torn, and his grotesquely swollen abdomen was crisscrossed with dark green veins, stretched tight as if the body was on the verge of bursting.
Larry, unfazed, worked alongside Max to remove the deceased’s clothing.
However, as soon as Max touched the body, a shiver ran down his spine. The corpse’s skin was covered in a viscous layer of decomposed fat, slippery and soft. With the slightest pressure, a piece of flesh detached effortlessly, revealing the frailty of the tissue in its advanced state of decay.
Larry leaned over the body, meticulously analyzing every detail while instructing Max to take notes.
"Male, approximately 1.75 meters tall. No visible documentation or identification. No apparent external injuries on the body’s surface."
The stains on the limbs were distinct and well-defined. However, on the deceased’s right groin, Larry found a scar.
"Probably from a childhood surgery. From what I can see, he also had a hernia operation less than five years ago," he muttered while writing it down.
"Additionally, the body has some letters tattooed on the skin."
The man's eyes were wide open, his tongue protruding, and his mouth and nose were obstructed by remnants of vomit.
The corpse was in an advanced state of decomposition.
Currently, daytime temperatures could reach 40 degrees Celsius, with nighttime lows not dropping below 20. The water, though slightly cooler, had accelerated the body's decay.
Larry estimated quickly: "The body was in the water for about five to seven days."
Max paused briefly, reflecting on the accuracy of the analysis. Larry was referring to the time the body had been submerged, not the exact time of death.
Without lifting his gaze, Larry continued, "Based on the average temperature in the southeast and the deceased’s clothing, his death occurred at the end of winter or the beginning of spring… or perhaps in late autumn or early winter."
Ángel furrowed his brows and asked, "Are you saying the body was frozen? That it was only dumped in this pond five to seven days ago?"
