As Ko and I begin our examination of the first crime scene, the gravity of what occurred here weighs heavily in the air. We move methodically, taking in every detail with trained eyes.
The first thing that catches my attention is the wall surrounding the property. It's impressively high, at least eight feet tall. "A normal person wouldn't be able to scale this easily," I muse aloud.
Ko nods in agreement. "So either our perpetrator is exceptionally athletic, or..."
"Or they used some kind of tool," I finish her thought. "A rope, a ladder maybe. Something they could quickly deploy and remove without leaving a trace."
We move closer to the house itself. An officer who's been guarding the scene approaches us, pointing out a crucial detail. "The investigators determined that one of the windows was unlocked from the outside," he explains.