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

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 over 7 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.

Do you usually have a lot of free time or none at all?

Asked by Emily about 8 years ago

Not much free time, no. There's always work to do.

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

Asked by Noah B over 7 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.

Good afternoon!im just a bit curious.... at what college did you go to?

Asked by Anna over 7 years ago

Cleveland State University. I have a BS in Biology.

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.

If we report a script that was stolen please tell me they'll finger print the bottle or is it not considered that important

Asked by Shannon McTighe almost 8 years ago

They might. I couldn't say for sure one way or the other.

Hello. I'm a high school student trying to become a forensic anthropologist. My parents and many relatives disapprove of my career choice because they think it's morbid. Please tell me something I could use to reason with them. Thanks.

Asked by Maeve over 7 years ago

Well, you could simply say you're going to be an anthropologist, which is true--I believe you'd have to be an anthropologist first and then specialize in forensic work. They might be disapproving because they believe it will be difficult to get a job--which is probably also true. When I was at the coroner's office our anthropologist was a college professor who would drive two hours to come and consult whenever we had skeletal remains. Very few agencies are large enough to have a full-time anthropologist on staff. So you might want to have some sort of back-up plan.