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

Do some of the remains you have to investigate make you uncomfortable?

Asked by jasmine Nunez over 6 years ago

No, I can't say that they do.

Hello Lisa! I am doing a essay on pattern and impression evidence for college. One of the requirements is to email someone who works in this field. Why is pattern and impression very important in investigations? An overall description of your job

Asked by Lyubov Barbin almost 8 years ago

I'm sorry but that's a very broad question. What kind of pattern and impression evidence are you talking about?

My school is offering 2 community health service courses that are credited. Will these courses be any help with forensic science or forensic anthropology?

Asked by Crazykid almost 8 years ago

I'm sorry but I don't know what a community health service course is, but I would think any information about the medical field would always be helpful.

I am a writer doing research, I want to preface this by saying I know what I am about to show might be impossible in the real world, but my story is working with a paranormal cause. Anyway, how would it be possible to appear self inflicted? https://ibb.co/eYiDGK

Asked by Ahmetia over 7 years ago

Possible for what to appear self-inflicted?

Can u plz tell me how to become a forensic scientist.....can i get a scolarship in your land

Asked by Litty almost 8 years ago

Stay in school and take lots of science courses. Scholarships would be offered by different schools and/or organizations. What land are you in now?

What's the shortest time for an autopsy you've done on a body? What's the longest? How long does an average autopsy take to finally decide you've found everything you could from it?

Asked by R-Mod almost 8 years ago

I have never done an autopsy, as I’m not a doctor. I’ve attended many, many autopsies, and they generally take about two hours, but can go up to four or five if there are a lot of injuries. At that point they will be done with the body, but the autopsy report can take much longer depending on if they have to send out samples for toxicology analysis (most places do) or have to wait on some other kind of specialty report. In one case I remember we had to wait a long time for a pediatric x-ray analysis. That can be weeks to months depending on who you’re waiting on and how big their backlog is.

I went to a forensic lab that day and I remembered them saying something about using gas chromatography to know if it wasa suicide or done by others. How do they know?

Asked by Junz over 7 years ago

What was it they were testing?