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

Why are some surfaces easier for fingerprints to rub off of than others?

Asked by Max G about 8 years ago

If you page up to the very first question, the answer goes into this in some detail.

Hi. Does the crime scene investigator lead the investigation? or does he collect the evidence and analyse it and pass it on to someone who leads the investigation/ interviews witnesses/ searches for the perpetrator etc? I want to work in field

Asked by Justyna about 8 years ago

Usually, as far as I know, the detective is in charge of the investigation. The CSI doens’t work for them but is there to provide technical support and advice, but ultimately, the detective has the final say. And unlike TV, the detectives are interviewing witnesses and deciding who to arrest. Best of luck!

I have a niece that wishes to be a forensic scientist. She did not have the best grades and she is struggling trying to get her AA degree from a 2 year community college in forensics. She now has a baby. What would you suggest?

Asked by mikeruth12 almost 8 years ago

She should try to get an internship with a local agency--city, county, state police or medical examiner's. Practical experience will count for a lot. However much depends on what kind of forensic scientist she wants to be--does she want to do crime scene work, in which case most of the training is on the job, or does she want to work in a lab, in which case she'll probably need at least a BA in biology or chemistry. She can check forensic organization websites and government websites for job vacancy postings to get an idea of what the job requirements are. She might also check out entry level positions. At our department we have PSA--Public Service Aides, a paid position that's basically a step between community volunteers and sworn officers. They do more cop-type things, but will make contacts and learn a lot. They do things like direct traffic at accident scenes, take burglary reports and process scenes for fingerprints. She might also want to consider that forensic positions involving crime scene work often have unpredictable hours and sometimes overtime, which might be difficult to juggle with child care arrangements.

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 about 8 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 did you choose this job/career

Asked by anthony melendez almost 8 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.

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

Asked by Talia almost 8 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.

Is it normal to find a body in odd and scary places like off a cliff or underwater? If so, is it an option to wait to get the body to lab to analyze or do you have to look at it no matter how bizarre the crime scene?

Asked by ubxh over 8 years ago

Most people die in their homes, so that's the 'normal' place to find them, but there are plenty of more unusual incidents as well. It's never scary, though, since when I go there I'm surrounded by cops, EMS workers, possibly firemen, Medical Examiner staff etc. I always observe the body where it is found, since that is my job. The Medical Examiner's or Coroner's office staff examines the body at their lab, so they can choose to come to the scene or not. If the death appears to be straightforward and natural, they will often not come to the scene and simply have the body transported to them.