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 about 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.

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

Asked by coraline medow over 7 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 over 7 years ago

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

I played a video game recently that had two murderers - separate murders - freeze their respective victims' bodies to throw off the time of death. Does that actually work? If so, how long does it take to unfreeze?

Asked by R-Mod almost 8 years ago

Changing the ambient temperature either up or down and then changing it back will affect a pathologist's estimate of time of death because they usually take that into consideration. I couldn't guess how long it would take it to unfreeze, but at room temperature I would think several hours at a minimum.

Could a persons pants instantly catch on fire , front and back from using a torch?

Asked by Dana Blackmon almost 8 years ago

I'm sure that depends on what material the pants were made of.

As a Forensic Scientist, are you legally exempt from being a Juror?

Asked by Ahmed Jordan Ezz Jr. about 8 years ago

This may vary by county or state, but I am not because I'm a civilian employee and not a sworn officer.

What's one of the weirdest cases you've worked?

Asked by Emily about 8 years ago

Unfortunately I can't really discuss that on a public forum. And they're all weird, in their way.