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

Your take on Gorge Floyd

Asked by DeeDee almost 6 years ago

You know as much as I do.

Why do you think so many people on this site want people to give them the answer they wanna hear instead of the truth or your (or whomever their asking) opinion? I mean they already told them selves so whats the point?

Asked by Walker asks folks almost 6 years ago

I don't get that impression.

What are the weirdest or odd things in crime scene that you've ever encounter?

Asked by KennyV over 7 years ago

Huh...that's a tough question. Nothing really stands out...everything is a little weird in some ways but not incredibly so. Perhaps the most unusual thing I ever had to examine was a safety harness from a window washer who fell 38 floors. Mostly I'm just amazed at the way people live, and the things people do to their houses. (And what they think looks good in terms of decor.)The most fun thing we had, at a homicide scene, was the homeless victim's cat with her litter of small kittens. That rivaled the litter of puppies who had a temporary bed in the master bath jacuzzi tub of a grow house.

Hi I am from butler high school and I am doing a project on forensic science and I was wondering if you had the time if I could do an interview with you if so could you contact me at7047710865

Asked by Stephen Roesly over 7 years ago

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

Thanks for your answer! I have 2 more q's. 1) Is it possible for me to contact you more privately e.g. email, where I can ask more questions in detail? If not, 2) in your opinion, what piece of forensic technology/method helps you the most as a CSI?

Asked by Kate Flynn over 6 years ago

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

What we use the most is a camera, and after that a tape measure (to make crime scene diagrams...99.9% these tell us nothing significant, but there could be that rare exception in terms of court testimony).

What is the most helpful to me is our fingerprint database to identify the unknown prints collected from crime scenes and evidence.

I'm a forensic chem major and I'm really struggling in my chem courses. When I took forensics in high school, I was incredible in lab. What advice do you have for me? Do you believe I'll be unsuccessful in this field because I'm not good in chemistry

Asked by AmandaM over 7 years ago

I’m sure it depends on what you want to do (lab work or field work) and what’s required. You would be better off talking to your local forensic lab to see what kind of things they do. Most likely the daily work of a forensic lab does not really involve exquisite chemistry. For my part, I was an ace in general chemistry but I never really ‘got’ organic chemistry. Best of luck!

If someone takes their own life by hanging is it common for it to be a double knot?

Asked by Kim over 7 years ago

There’s a wide variety of knots as people tend to use whatever they think will work.

I hope that helps.