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

Hi Lisa, I am studying forensics for a project and I came across a couple images that have me stumped. I think they may be phony, but not sure. They are from a gore site (they are non nude). Can you help me determine some things about these pics?

Asked by HG almost 5 years ago

What is it you’re going to want to know about them, because I may or may not be able to help.

Take LAW AND ORDER SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT. What are things that they promote that are false and what things do they not really show that is real. I know like y’all don’t work on one case at a time I honestly think it would be more entertaining if they did it sorta more realistic where their working on multiple cases

Asked by DANNCY almost 5 years ago

I don't watch the show, so I couldn't comment. But fiction is meant to be entertaining, and it's usually more satisfying to focus on one story at a time.

What would happen if someone was eating brains line in IZombie?

Asked by Darla almost 5 years ago

They would put themselves at risk of contracting kuru, which is similar to Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease.

Can “teen” porn on the internet be considered child pornography even if the people in them are not children but prenteding to be young teens/children

Asked by Sammy almost 5 years ago

I don’t know. Luckily I don’t have to deal with those cases other than assisting in a search warrant, since I am not trained in downloading computers and phones (my coworker does that). I think you’’d have to ask a lawyer.

Can a Bachelors Degree in Health Science get you a job as a forensic science technician?

Asked by Harmony Smith over 3 years ago

If the agency you apply to accepts it, then yes. Our agency just asks for at least an associate's degree but doesn't specify the subject, so you would qualify. What an agency is looking for beyond any degree is up to them. They might want only those with forensic training, or they might prefer someone who's had laboratory training even if not specifically in forensics over someone who had forensic training but no hands-on lab work. The only way to know is to call them and ask. Best of luck to you!

What do you think is the worst case you have ever done. What’s the most gruesome, frustrating, or however you define it.

Asked by Mark almost 5 years ago

Probably the most raw was a small plane crash.

Are your books related off of real cases you have done and of corse maybe a little more realistic then many other books that are out there?

Asked by AJ almost 5 years ago

I try to make them realistic, but they’re not based on real cases. Except for Trail of Blood, which is partly about the unsolved Torso Murders in Cleveland in the 1930s.