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

Are chaplains always sworn employees or can they be citizen employees?

Asked by Dan over 5 years ago

At my agency the chaplains are all civilians from local denominations.

I have not used cocaine in a year, why is my hair still testing positive for cocaine?

Asked by Terence J Donnelly about 6 years ago

Hair is just dead cells, so once something is there, it stays there. Hair grows at about 1/2 inch per month, in general (mine, to my frustration, grows much more slowly). So if your hair is longer than say 6 inches, the cocaine will still be there. If your hair is much shorter, then I don’t know what’s happening.Hope that helps.

Does being a forensic scientist allow time to have a family of your own?

Asked by Sophie over 5 years ago

Yes, of course! You often have to be a little flexible in your schedule, but it's no more a problem than in any other job.

Hi do you know about Forengsic’s regarding suicides?

Asked by Linda over 5 years ago

That’s a very broad question. What specifically do you need to know?

I am complaining about a civil attorney. He was supposed to send me some photographs. He sent an envelope, said the photographs are enclosed, but they were not. He claims he sent them, and I lost them. Can the envelope be examined for residue?

Asked by Tom over 6 years ago

Almost certainly, no. Unlike television, real forensic equipment is designed to test for certain things. For example the mass spectrometer in the toxicology department is set to test for illegal narcotics and not heavy metals such as arsenic. If arsenic is suspected, it could be detected with a different instrument or different parameters programmed into the same instrument. So I doubt there is any equipment that could be set up to detect microscopic amounts of photographic chemicals, if a photo would even shed any.

I know they use interrogation techniques, polygraphs, and have experts who recognize truth and deception. But do and could someone use hypnosis?

Asked by DJ over 5 years ago

Supposedly, but I don’t know of any cases personally.

Hello
Please give me details like background, investigation, evidence etc. Of O.J Simpson murder case?

Asked by Hifz Ur Rehman almost 6 years ago

Sorry, I wouldn't know anything more about it than anyone else. Try Google. Or watch the excellent miniseries, "American Crime Story: The Run For His Life." It was great.