Sketching a path to solving crime

Despite never having seen the criminal suspects, Cui Quan can recreate their likeness using only the eyewitness descriptions, producing images that are critical to police investigations.

Cui, 57, a forensic sketch artist with the criminal investigation division of the Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture's public security bureau in Jilin province, has helped solve over 130 cases based on his sketches over the past 26 years.

After graduating from the College of Arts at Yanbian University in 1993, Cui became a police officer at a grassroots police station in the public security bureau of Yanji, the capital of Yanbian.

Despite his busy work schedule, Cui, whose love for drawing began in childhood, made time to practice his sketching and develop his skill.

A 1999 television news program on Zhang Xin, a national expert in police sketching who had solved a major case through portraiture, sparked Cui's interest in the field.

"I also hoped to use my skills to help catch criminals," Cui said.

Cui presented his college sketch portfolio to the bureau's relevant departments to showcase his proficiency in the hopes of charting a new path in his policing career.

In 2000, Cui was dispatched to the technical department, where he began exploring and utilizing forensic sketching.

"Initially, when I created sketches of suspects based on victims' descriptions of features like the nose, eyes, and face shape, most eyewitnesses said my sketches didn't — or only somewhat — resemble the suspects," Cui said.

Gradually, Cui realized that forensic sketching is not just about drawing.

"It requires rich experience, scientific inference, and a deep understanding of the verbal descriptions provided by witnesses to create an image that closely matches the real appearance," he said. "Therefore, during the first five years, I was constantly learning from others."

To improve his skills, he studied various fields, including criminal psychology, criminal investigation, and anatomy.

In 2005, he spent several months visiting crime scenes and learning specialized skills in Shanghai from the role model he first saw on TV all those years before. Under Zhang's guidance, Cui gradually mastered the technique of forensic sketching.

Mastering the art

In October 2005, a home invasion murder case occurred in Longjing, a city in the prefecture.

After several days of investigation with no progress, the investigating officers enlisted Cui for help.

It was the first case he took on after completing his training in Shanghai.

"Although I had practiced with many cases during my training, I still felt nervous while taking on a real task," he said. "Only the victim's eldest son had seen the suspect once, but he could not clearly remember the appearance, only mentioning that the suspect was 'wearing glasses, a little thin'."

While comforting him, Cui injected questions throughout a two-hour conversation before starting the sketch. "When I showed the sketch to him, he simply said 'it looks like him'," he said.

Using the sketch as a guide, police officers quickly apprehended the suspect.

Throughout 2006, over 20 robbery cases occurred in Yanji, cases that all tested Cui's skills.

Due to the large number of victims and differing descriptions of the suspect, Cui synthesized the varying descriptions from more than 10 victims, reflected on them for two days, created six sketches of the suspect, and eventually combined them into one for six victims to view.

"One victim was so scared upon seeing the sketch that she didn't dare approach it," Cui said. "Another victim ran away, crying and saying 'that's him'."

The criminal was soon caught, and a series of robbery and rape cases were solved.

"To successfully create a forensic sketch, it is necessary to understand the victim's viewpoint, as well as the time, place, and surrounding environment of the eyewitnesses," Cui said.

"Take the lighting conditions for example, different lighting can lead to different descriptions of a suspect's build."

Additionally, Cui said that the victim's emotional state is very important during interviews with police.

"In investigations, almost all victims claim they can't remember the perpetrator's appearance," he said.

"It is because they have experienced the most frightening event of their lives, and the suspect's appearance is something they least want to remember."

As a result, he usually chose a quiet space to meet them, starting with concern for their well-being before easing into questions once they were relaxed.

Over the years, Cui has maintained the habit of drawing at least one sketch a day, honing his basic skills.

In 2012, Cui was promoted to the technical team of the prefecture's public security bureau, gaining fame across the province and even from neighboring Heilongjiang province.

In recent years, despite advancements in surveillance technology, Cui has not put down his sketchpads. He studies blurry image restoration, skull structures, and the effects of aging on facial features — such as how to sketch a 70-year-old fugitive who was in his 30s at the time of the crime.

"To draw a 70-year-old, you need to study how his parents and siblings aged," he said. "Genetic structure will give a guide."

At present, many forensic sketch artists are changing careers or leaving the profession, and there are very few forensic sketch artists nationwide, he said.

"I hope more young people who are passionate about the field will join the team, and I am willing to pass on the knowledge of portrait simulation to them," he added.

Contact the writers at zhouhuiying@chinadaily.com.cn