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

Why do you think so many people on this site want people to give them the answer they wanna hear instead of the truth or your (or whomever their asking) opinion? I mean they already told them selves so whats the point?

Asked by Walker asks folks over 5 years ago

I don't get that impression.

How can I start a path towards becoming a forensic scientist? I am especially interested in DNA and toxicology.

Asked by Ryota over 5 years ago

I would major in biochemistry for either, and/or genetics for DNA. Best of luck!!

if I can send you a picture can you please tell me the entrance wound or the exit wound from the pictures in your experience

Asked by Clu D Wright about 6 years ago

No, you would really need a pathologist for that. Generally, exits tend to be larger than entrances, but it depends on what someone is shot with and where. If the muzzle is very close or in contact with the body, then the entrance will likely be larger than the exit. if the bullet fragments inside, then there might be a small exit. So different factors can affect it. Best of luck to you.

Your take on Gorge Floyd

Asked by DeeDee over 5 years ago

You know as much as I do.

I'm going to be graduating high school in a few months and I'm looking to do forensic science, mostly leaning towards biology and examining. I want to know if going to a FEPAC school really matters.

Asked by Morgan almost 7 years ago

I'm sorry but I don't know what a FEPAC school is.

Recently, one of my daughter's friends was dosed with Visine eye drops presumed to be in her drink. Malicious activity? A date rape attempt? Is there a way to test for Visine in a drink, or in food?

Asked by Bill over 6 years ago

The perpetrator could be imitating a scene from the movie “Wedding Crashers” in which they put Visine in a man’s drink to give him diarrhea and vomiting. However Google tells me that’s not what it actually does, it can cause drowsiness and can be dangerous. So the motivation depends on whether the perpetrator knew what the actual effects would be or not.

As far as detecting it, it’s apparently in the imidazole family which includes histidines, so perhaps a chemical lab could detect it or some compenents of it. That would utilize thin layer chromatography and I don’t know how many labs actually do that any more—but I truly have no idea where or how or if a lab could test for it since I don’t have much of a background in chemistry, sorry!

Hope that helps.

Do you watch Law and Order?

Asked by Jimmy about 6 years ago

Not regularly, but I’ve caught many reruns over the years.