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

Hi, I recently developed OCD with a particular person.. I hate the fact this persons “DNA” or skin cells will be with me. This person touched my shirt and I washed it by hand..will their skin cells be gone after washing? Also my phone?

Asked by Helena over 8 years ago

Yes, soap will take care of it.

Hey got another question what skill do you need to be a forensic scientist

Asked by Sara almost 8 years ago

titles and job requirements aren't uniform, so the only way to know is to call the crime labs in your area or whereever you might be interested in working and ask them. You can also go on the websites for professional organizations such as the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and check out their job vacancy postings and see what the various positions require. Good luck.

If you were given a 20GB hard drive that had been used to image an 8GB USB device and
found during analysis that more than the 8GB image was on the disk, what would this
indicate? How would you then proceed?

Asked by MK almost 8 years ago

Sorry, but I’m not trained in digital forensics. I have absolutely no idea.

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 about 8 years ago

What was it they were testing?

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 over 8 years ago

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

How do forensic scientists determine time of death or how long a person has been deceased?

Asked by Adel almost 8 years ago

That determination is made by the pathologist doing the autopsy, and there are a number of ways--body temperature, rate of decomposition, rigor mortis, but it will be an estimate, not the precise number that you might see on TV. All those things can depend on the environment where the body is, temperature, exposure, physical characteristics of the victim, medical conditions etc. Entomologists can help if there is distinct bug activity at the scene as well.

Hope that helps!

What can you tell me about death related to homicide, suicide and car fatalities.

Asked by Annette Davis over 7 years ago

That’s an exceedingly broad question that could take a stack of textbooks to answer.