Forensic Scientist

Forensic Scientist

LIsa Black

Cape Coral, FL

Female, 49

I spent the five happiest years of my life in a morgue. As a forensic scientist in the Cleveland coroner’s office I analyzed gunshot residue on hands and clothing, hairs, fibers, paint, glass, DNA, blood and many other forms of trace evidence, as well as crime scenes. Now I'm a certified latent print examiner and CSI for a police department in Florida. I also write a series of forensic suspense novels, turning the day job into fiction. My books have been translated into six languages.

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Last Answer on July 21, 2022

Best Rated

How reliable are drug tests? The ones that turn colors. I seen where a dude had doughnut glaze on the ground and it tested positive (no thats not a joke lol).

Asked by Darren over 4 years ago

I'm sorry but I've never worked in toxicology, so I've never tested drugs with any kind of test.

Sorry I can't help!

Does gas chromatagraph/chromatagram data always show peaks relative to the solvents used with samples to perform gc/ms analysis?

Asked by Answer Seaker over 5 years ago

That is a great question that I can’t answer! So sorry, but I never worked with a GC or Mass Spec. That was the toxicology department.

My question to you is how are the audits done like in the state where they are auditing votes? What do you think the results will be?

Asked by Forrest over 4 years ago

I’m sorry but my job has absolutely nothing to do with auditing voting machines. I have zero expertise in that area.

Have, is, or are there any of your books that are, is, or will be a movie?

Asked by 272 about 5 years ago

Trace Evidence, my first book, was optioned and I wrote the screenplay for it. But the producers couldn’t sell it and had to give up. I’ve had nibbles on other books but nothing yet. I keep hoping!

Have you ever worked a case that was cold?

Asked by Seth about 5 years ago

Yes, certainly. I didn't manage to find the one piece of evidence that solved the whole thing, but I have worked on several. In my department a double homicide finally broke open after 30 years: https://www.news-press.com/story/news/crime/2020/10/01/joseph-zieler-suspect-two-cape-coral-homicides-seeks-dna-expert/3584935001/

I am back to school to complete some science and math courses, like Organic Chemistry and Physics. I then plan on going onto graduate school for a master's program in forensic science. Will that increase my chances of getting a job in the field?

Asked by Yuna almost 4 years ago

I think it would absolutely help your chances. But all agencies might not be looking for the same things. I would check the websites for all the agencies you’re interested in to see their job postings.

Best of luck to you!

Can a coroner make a arrest? People like to always make the point about a “citizens arrest” but I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.

Asked by Richard about 5 years ago

I don’t really know, but at the coroner’s office I worked at I was told that our coroner was actually the highest law enforcement officer, technically, in the county. She was the only person who could arrest the sheriff if necessary. That never became necessary though so I don’t know how it would actually work.