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

research for a novel:
How would a severed hand found on a Cornish coast in autumn after two weeks at sea reveal that it had been in the sea that long and would you know roughly, how long the hand's owner might have lived for at sea? Thank you hugely!

Asked by Helene du Mauri about 8 years ago

Generally bodies in the water decompose more slowly than bodies exposed to air, but more specifically than that I cannot tell you. I did find this: https://digital.library.txstate.edu/handle/10877/4078

It's really a pathology question and not my area. Also colder temperatures will cause slower decomposition than warmer temps.

I definitely can't answer your second question but also, are you asking a) how long the person lived as a sailor b) how long the person was in the water before the hand was cut off or c) how long they might have survived in the water after the hand was cut off (assuming they had no access to a tourniquet and such like)? If you could locate someone who worked as a ship's doctor they might be a big help.

Best of luck!!

Hello Lisa
Iam a researcher for a major company and Iam looking for a test method that would allow me determine how much blood would be left on the body after a bandage or fem pad was removed? Can you help? Thank you

Asked by Rodger almost 8 years ago

I'm afraid not. I'm guessing that would depend entirely on how large the bandage is and how much the person bled. Best of luck!

What is the best college in Minnesota to get a Forensic Science Bachelor's Degree at?

Asked by Talia over 7 years ago

I have no idea. They didn't have forensic science degrees when I went to school. But I will check with a friend of mine who teaches.

Like someone ripped out his brain and placed it in the mans hand. And then ripped the wife's heart and placed in his other hand. ... sorry if im taking up too much of your time.

Asked by Paula again over 7 years ago

Oh, sorry, for some reason I thought you meant that the guy had done it himself. In that case it is quite possible of course. The scene would be very bloody, of course, with all those injuries. The bodies would bleed out but probably more from gravity than from the heart pumping because they would have died so quickly. (At least I’m assuming the attack was over quickly.) The heart is about the size of the person’s fist and, obviously, would be blood covered after removal. A brain is grayish white and convoluted and other than some blood smears would look fairly neat, if the entire thing was removed carefully as one would at an autopsy. The killer would need a scraping tool and the expertise to do that. Otherwise it would probably look pretty mangled, but still largely a grayish white color.Hope that helps!

Why is it important in Microbial Forensics to know how medication can change the microbiota of an individual ?

Asked by Sam about 8 years ago

I'm sorry but I'm not versed in microbiology.

What are most interesting cases you have been a part of or have studied?

Asked by bart white almost 8 years ago

Nothing that is nationally famous.

why did you choose this job/career

Asked by anthony melendez over 7 years ago

if you have homework assignment interview questions, please email me all of them at once at: Lisa-black@live.com and I’ll get back to you.