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.

SubscribeGet emails when new questions are answered. Ask Me Anything!Show Bio +

Share:

Ask me anything!

Submit Your Question

989 Questions

Share:

Last Answer on July 21, 2022

Best Rated

When women have been raped and they do a rape test kit, how can forensic scientists determine if the woman was raped or if it was consensual sex?

Asked by Steffaney Espinosa almost 8 years ago

The rape kit will only show biological evidence of another person besides the victim. Bruising, injuries and testimony will be used to determine whether it was consensual or not.

is there a way for me to contact you directly so i can ask more questions

Asked by a student almost 8 years ago

Sure you can email me at lisa-black@live.com

I am writing a paranormal suspense thriller novel and I need to know if you could figure out a person's identity in 2010 if all you had were the eyeballs and they were preserved since the 1970s.

Asked by Yvonne Schuchart over 7 years ago

My guess would be no. I would think the formaldehyde would destroy the DNA in the cells, though I don’t know for sure, and in any event they weren’t doing DNA in the 70’s so you’d have to find something of the person’s to compare the eyeball DNA. If you have something of the person’s retained from the 70’s, especially hair for example, perhaps there is mitochondrial DNA in some cell in the eyeballs that could still be obtained and compared to the mDNA from the hair.Otherwise I doubt ophthalmologists would take or save retinal scans back in the 70’s. Hope that helps. Best of luck!

You mentioned internships earlier and I was just curious on how to approach them, as I am currently a sophmore in college and taking criminal justice classes, but not chemistry classes yet.

Asked by k101 almost 8 years ago

Your advisor should be able to direct you. If not, then call all the crime labs in the area, city, county, state and ask them if they offer internships and how to apply.

Hi so I'm doing a school project on a career I want to do and I was wondering if there was any chance I was able to ask you questions about Forensic science and pathology?

Asked by Bri almost 8 years ago

Sure, email me at lisa-black@live.com

Okay I am righting a book, and I am looking for a way to describe it from a forensic scientist/analyzer's point of view. the man would die with a caved in skull, holding his brain in one hand, and his wife's heart in the other.

Asked by Paula almost 8 years ago

Sorry, I'm having a hard time picturing how what you're describing would be possible.

Well, according to the movie, as fingerprints leave an oily residue, they found traces of R-12 mixed with it. They also said that the uric acid levels in the eccrine gland residue were inconsistent with a guy with active metabolism. Too far fetched?

Asked by R-Mod almost 8 years ago

Yes. Unless they have a crime lab more incredibly equipped than any I've ever visited.