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

Are chaplains always sworn employees or can they be citizen employees?

Asked by Dan almost 6 years ago

At my agency the chaplains are all civilians from local denominations.

Will you go out with me?

Asked by Generic White Male over 6 years ago

No.

Good morning, My name is scott hunter and i a trying to research, career exploration. I was wondering if it would be possible to meet with you or call you to learn about your profession?i would be greatful for about 20 minutes of your time. Thank you

Asked by scott over 7 years ago

Sure, no problem. Please email me at lisa-black@live.com.

Which, in your opinion, is the most effective in solving crime on a daily basis: DNA analysis, Fingerprint analysis or Luminol (or other) spray testing?

Asked by Eliza over 6 years ago

Luminal and dye stains just enhance or show you where things are, like blood or fingerprints. DNA analysis and fingerprint analysis are equally effective, so you use what you have. You might have DNA at a crime scene but no fingerprints, or vice versa. We don’t get a choice of what’s left at a crime scene, so we have to make the most of whatever is there. Given that, whatever is the most effective is whatever gives you information relevant to the crime. Say there’s a smear of the victim’s blood on the suspect’s shirt. The suspect tells police he found the body and tried to administer CPR. In that case, the DNA is very much there, but useless to solve the crime. If the suspect says he never met the victim and the same shirt is found in the suspect’s closet , then that’s very relevant to solving the crime.

How anonymous are people really on the dark, deep, and even on the regular internet? What about websites where people talk about bad things they have, doing, or going to do without signing up or anything?

Asked by Dan about 6 years ago

I'm sorry, but I have no idea. I don't work in digital forensics.

Hi! I was wondering something about timing. Say a kidnapping takes place in a hotel room. How long is the room cordoned off? At what point is the evidence collected and taken away? When can the room be let again? (Working on a novel!)

Asked by Nico over 6 years ago

We’ll hold the scene as long as we need to get everything done, and that could be a day or two or three, but for a kidnapping it probably wouldn’t be more than a day, just enough to collect all the victim’s stuff, and collect fingerprints, hairs, fibers, anything that might belong to the kidnapper. We eventually get tired and want to go home (though we can go and come back, so long as it hasn’t been ‘released’) and the police department don’t really want to hold it longer then absolutely necessary, because they have a cop or two sitting there doing nothing but guarding the scene, and it takes them off the road. Hope that helps!

is it possible to be stabbed in your subclavian vein leading to death [while standing up] and not get blood on your shoes

Asked by Kerry Ferris about 7 years ago

Wow, sorry, I have no idea where the subclavian vein even is. I’m afraid you need a pathologist.

Sorry I couldn’t be more help!