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

whats a typical day in the life of a forensic scientist?

Asked by kenia over 8 years ago

When I was at the coroner's office, a typical day would be examining victim's clothing from a homicide or suicide, typing blood samples and testing gunshot residue samples. Now at the police department, a typical day is spent in front of the computer putting in latent prints that the officers or I have lifted from items and searching for a match, or checking past searches of new people put in the system. Then I might go out to process a burglary scene.

What is you opinion on the product rule used in DNA match probabilities and is this a reliable statistical method to employ when new DNA profiling multiplexes analyse STR markers within the same chromosome?

Asked by andres11 over 8 years ago

Sorry, but as I'm not a DNA analyst, I wouldn't have any idea.

How do the forensic team transport the body without destroying any crucial evidence?

Asked by coraline medow about 8 years ago

Inside a fresh body bag that's zipped up.

Lisa thanks you for responding. Yes there are many variables in this but what Iam asking is : If you had to take a measure of amount of blood that was on human skin , how would you?

Asked by Rodger about 8 years ago

I'm sorry but I really don't know.

Before an autopsy is performed, must all the blood be removed from the body?

Asked by Richard Ferstandig almost 8 years ago

No. Much blood will drain from all the cutting done during the autopsy, but no attempt is made to particularly remove it.

can a person erase their fingerprints w/ household cleaning products

Asked by fierce95@yahoo.com over 8 years ago

From an object? Sure, if you clean the surface thoroughly.

As a forensic scientist, do you use the diameter of blood splatters as clues to how the crime happened?

Asked by Rylee over 8 years ago

Yes, the arcsin of the width divided by the length of the stain will give you the angle of impact at which the blood struck the surface (usually a wall). The direction of the stains can be traced back to a point of convergence and from there the angles can be traced back to a distance from the wall, giving you the approximate point in space where the blow was struck.