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

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

Asked by Richard Ferstandig over 7 years ago

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

A girl was found dead in warf.When some one find the dead body her right hand was not touching ground,it was raised from surface.Also the body had the refreshness.Also her stomach contain the carrot ,it is known by postmortem report.say your thought

Asked by Abi almost 8 years ago

Was she washed up out of the water or found on a dock or something? In the first case it wouldn't be interpretable because you can't know where the body was when rigor set in. In the second it might indicate that the body had been moved if the hand position wasn't consistent with where the body was found. I don't know what you mean by 'refreshness'. Stomach contents can help a pathologist estimate how long it had been between eating and time of death, though of course everyone's digestion rate is a little different. I hope that helps!

If a person kills themselves by hanging (belt) does trauma 2 throat and petecheia show up immediately at time of death

Asked by Jennifer almost 8 years ago

Yes. I've never heard it mentioned that certain things don't show up until later.

What are the most common ways that people have been killed

Asked by bart white over 7 years ago

Gunshot is the most common, then bludgeoning, then stabbing.

what work experience is recommended ?

Asked by kenia about 8 years ago

Any kind of lab work, lab courses or internships in laboratories or with the criminal justice system.

Where would you say is the best university to study forensic science?

Asked by Dom about 8 years ago

I'm sorry but I wouldn't have any idea. They didn't even have forensic science degrees when I went to school.

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

Asked by Rylee almost 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.