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.

SubscribeGet emails when new questions are answered. Ask Me Anything!Show Bio +

Share:

Ask me anything!

Submit Your Question

989 Questions

Share:

Last Answer on July 21, 2022

Best Rated

If a right handed person shoots himself in right temple with a 9 mm weapon while in a seated position in floor with back resting against bed and head slumped to his left, where is weapon likely to be found?

Asked by Jeannie almost 8 years ago

I would guess in his lap or to his right, but it's impossible to know for sure, since you cannot know exactly how the body was positioned or how powerful the load of the bullet might have been.

Hi Lisa, my names Analicia and I just started my first semester in college to be a Forensic Specialist/CSI. I would love to know all the required steps, and advice to get to what I want to do. Thank you.

Asked by Analicia Smith over 7 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 wherever you might be interested in working and ask them. At the coroner's office we had to have at least a bachelor's in a natural science (this was before they had forensic science majors). At the police department where I am now, they only require a high school diploma but you get more points in the interviewing process for having a four year degree, so we all have one. 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.

s it possible to determine trajectory that a gun was fired, if so, how?

Asked by Noah B almost 8 years ago

At it’s most basic, a trajectory is just geometry. If you can find two fixed points then you can draw a straight line between and beyond them.

Considering gunpowder residue, how is it possible for someone to get it on their hand after simply firing a gun?

Asked by R-Mod almost 8 years ago

Gunshot residue can actually refer to two things, gunpowder that flies out of the barrel with the bullet and can land on the victim, and primer residue that can leak out of the back of the bullet cartridge and spray out onto the shooter's hand. But it can also get on the gun or nearby surfaces or people so presence of it on hands does not prove someone fired a gun, and it can wipe off easily so absence of it doesn't prove they did.

Can the fingerprints of a living person be taken off a dead human body, namely the skin of the corpse? If so, what are the easiest places for that?

Asked by R-Mod over 7 years ago

Yes. It's not common, but prints have been lifted using superglue or the more recent RTX. The best areas would be those that are smooth, clean and largely free of hair.

Is it normal for All Government Offices to Destroy a minor child's death records and accident report????

Asked by Brandy over 8 years ago

Not that I'm aware of. Are you sure they were destroyed? Or simply not located at that office?

Why are some surfaces easier for fingerprints to rub off of than others?

Asked by Max G almost 8 years ago

If you page up to the very first question, the answer goes into this in some detail.