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

Hello! I have a first quarter project that wants me to talk about a type of scientist (obviously I have chosen forensic scientists). I was wondering if i could interview you for said project. Thanks!

Asked by M.H. over 7 years ago

Sure, you can email me at lisa-black@live.com, but I'm traveling and won't be able to get back to you for another week at least.

If a man masturbates a few times on a towel...And his girl friend urinates on it and then wipes her self down there with it. Would it be possible to find semen in or around her vagina?

Asked by Brian over 8 years ago

I really don't know--I suppose it's possible but I don't know how urinating on it would affect it. I also don't know why one would urinate on a towel. And it sounds like you're trying to find an innocent explanation for your girlfriend's parents on the occasion of her unexpected pregnancy. Either way,, good luck.

Is there a way to tell the person's weight from their skeleton? I know you can tell age, race, old injuries and so much more. Would you be able to tell that the bones belonged to a 400lb man?

Asked by Desiré over 8 years ago

That's an excellent question but you need an anthropologist to answer it. I'm afraid I don't know. Sorry!

Sample of which body part do you use to perform a dna check of a john doe if you have to

Asked by Mystery about 8 years ago

From live people we usually take a buccal swab from the inside of the mouth. From a deceased person, we can use any part from which we can extract DNA, such as blood, bone, teeth, etc.

Do clothes play a key role in terms of clues? If so… how?

Asked by bart white over 7 years ago

Again that depends entirely upon the circumstances. If someone is shot from a distance, then the clothes aren't going to tell you anything. If someone gets close enough to leave their own blood or their hair on the clothing, then they might.

How many hours do you put in a day

Asked by jon57 over 7 years ago

Whatever you’re scheduled to work—depending on your agency’s setup you might work 8, 10, 12 hour shifts, maybe plus overtime call-outs.

I was wondering, do people have different patterns on each finger? One finger tented arch, one plain arch sort of thing?

Asked by Amelia H. over 8 years ago

Yes, absolutely. Most people will have a mix of patterns on their fingers.