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

Have you ever made a arrest?

Asked by Shelby almost 6 years ago

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

How did your knowledge of bloodstain pattern analysis help you to secure convictions in past experience?

Asked by Jason Tulanda about 6 years ago

In my personal experience, I have only testified to bloodstain pattern analysis once, and it didn’t really tell anything significant about the case because there was blood everywhere, and the fingerprints in blood weighed more than the patterns.

A Man is found dead near rail track falling from a train. Can a forensic expert say whether he jumped or accidentally fell or pushed by somebody from train?

Asked by Maria Rose over 5 years ago

I see that on TV all the time but I have a hard time believing it. But I don't know personally. Sorry!

How anonymous are people really on the dark, deep, and even on the regular internet? What about websites where people talk about bad things they have, doing, or going to do without signing up or anything?

Asked by Dan over 5 years ago

I'm sorry, but I have no idea. I don't work in digital forensics.

Can I ask you some questions for my novel? I need some things fact-checked. Probably too long to write on here.

Asked by Paula almost 6 years ago

Sure! Email me at Lisa-black@live.com.

Assume a swimming pool on a yacht was filled with regular tap water and chlorine. A person drowns in the pool. The body is dumped over board and found within hours. Could lung water be tested chemically to help discern the true facts?

Asked by PT O'Neil over 6 years ago

As far as I know that is possible. Whether a medical examiner’s office would actually test the water in the lungs in a case of apparent drowning is another matter. There is also the possibility of ‘dry-drowning’ in which the throat closes and no water gets in the lungs. A pathologist told me once that drowning is sort of a ‘negative diagnosis’ in that, if no other cause of death presents itself and the person is found in water, then drowning is assumed. Sorry I can’t be more help!

Do you see yourself doing this job in the next ten years?

Asked by Trump 2020 MAGA KAG almost 6 years ago

Yes.