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 about 6 years ago

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

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 6 years ago

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

Have you ever made a arrest?

Asked by Shelby over 6 years ago

I'm a civilian employee, not a sworn officer, so no.

Hi do you know about Forengsic’s regarding suicides?

Asked by Linda over 6 years ago

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

Hi! I was wondering something about timing. Say a kidnapping takes place in a hotel room. How long is the room cordoned off? At what point is the evidence collected and taken away? When can the room be let again? (Working on a novel!)

Asked by Nico over 6 years ago

We’ll hold the scene as long as we need to get everything done, and that could be a day or two or three, but for a kidnapping it probably wouldn’t be more than a day, just enough to collect all the victim’s stuff, and collect fingerprints, hairs, fibers, anything that might belong to the kidnapper. We eventually get tired and want to go home (though we can go and come back, so long as it hasn’t been ‘released’) and the police department don’t really want to hold it longer then absolutely necessary, because they have a cop or two sitting there doing nothing but guarding the scene, and it takes them off the road. Hope that helps!

Why does the BLM not give a half a shit about the Australian American woman who was shot?

Asked by WE THE PEOPPE about 6 years ago

I am an expert in some areas of forensic science. I am not an expert in law, public safety policy or our political system.

Can a decades-old used latex condom buried with a body still have dna evidence in it that can be tested?

Asked by J.J. White over 6 years ago

If it were allowed to dry and kept dry, then it's possible, though the odds would be incredibly slim since the decomposition fluids from the body would most like overwhelm it. It's worth a try.