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

Am I allowed to have facial hair like a beard for example in the field of forensic scientist?

Asked by jason gonzalez over 10 years ago

I'm sure you are, since most positions are civilian positions without those kinds of restrictions.

A dead body that has been found after an extended period of cold weather has "gooseflesh" and is apparently frozen to the point that autopsy has to wait a day. Did that person die while in rigor, since gooseflesh is a characteristic of rigor?

Asked by Jimmy Conway almost 11 years ago

I did not know gooseflesh was a characteristic of rigor, and if I'm understanding rigor to mean rigor mortis then of course they'd already be dead before reaching that stage. But as for how likely it is that pre-mortem gooseflesh would remain after death or be affected by freezing after death, I'm afraid you'd have to ask a pathologist. I don't have the expertise to answer that.

I have to interview a forensic scientist as part of my math class in Jr High. Can you tell me how you use math in forensic science. I googled the textbook answer, but would like a real persons answer.please

Asked by EJ over 10 years ago

We use math in calculating point of orgin of bloodstain patterns. The sin of the angle of impact equals the width over the length of the blood stain. When we have a group of bloodstains on a surface like a wall or floor we can use this to calculate the point of origin. Also the fingerprint database searching uses complicated algorithms to rank fingerprint matches in terms of similarity. Forensic chemists probably use math more than I do--for example, to calculate the amount of alcohol in a person's blood. I hope that helps!

I'd like to know what is the biggest pain you deal with as a Forensic Scientist?

Asked by Jack over 10 years ago

Officers who talk their sergeants into calling us out to a scene for five minutes of processing because they don't want to use the fingeprrint kits that they've been issued for just that purpose.

I have an old leather scabbard,from my fathers Marine Kbar knife, is want to know how to bring out the writing on the back, i tried using paper, and rubbing with graphite, any other suggestions?

Asked by Al Tyler over 10 years ago

I don't know too much about indented writing but I would suggest using alternative light sources like IR or UV.

When a child is hit by a car and killed, why would cops put a child going 500ft, without road rash or clothes tore to hell. Only blood back of head, no visible marks. But the car actually looks like a sledge hammer hit it. She would of hit the car fa

Asked by Brandy Daugherty over 10 years ago

See below.

Research for a novel. If one could behead others with a perfectly clean, precise, magical cut, how would that stand out from a beheading by a blade?

Asked by Adelle about 10 years ago

I'm sorry but I have no idea. You'd have to ask a pathologist about wound appearance. Sorry I can't be more help.