A former forensic analyst for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for manipulating and omitting DNA data, a scandal that has raised questions about the integrity of hundreds of criminal cases.
Yvonne “Missy” Woods pleaded guilty in June to charges including perjury, attempting to influence a public servant, forgery, and committing a cybercrime. Her plea agreement resulted in the dismissal of dozens of other counts.
Authorities stated that Woods' actions affected cases involving homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and other crimes. The CBI was compelled to review hundreds of cases, and the misconduct has already led to at least one murder conviction being overturned.
During her sentencing hearing on Tuesday, Woods faced a potential prison term ranging from 8 to 16 years. State District Judge Andrew Poland handed down the 10-year sentence.
Woods, who resigned in 2023 after a lengthy career, was accused of altering data to conceal tampering, deleting information that indicated she had not properly troubleshot testing issues, and failing to adequately document tests in case records. She expressed remorse during the hearing, acknowledging that her apology could not undo the harm caused.
"For many years I was entrusted with evidence that could have profound consequences for defendants, victims, families and the courts. I failed that responsibility. I am deeply sorry for that failure," Woods said, according to The Denver Post.
The investigation into Woods' conduct began in September 2023 when an intern at the CBI discovered missing information in a 2018 case handled by Woods. An arrest affidavit indicated that Woods had claimed she altered data to expedite case processing.
In one overturned murder case, Michael Clark was released from prison in 2025 after his defense successfully argued that Woods had mishandled DNA evidence. Prosecutors have indicated their intention to retry him.
In two other homicide cases, defendants received reduced sentences through plea deals due to concerns that Woods' involvement might lead to acquittals if the cases proceeded to trial. Challenges to convictions in other cases are also ongoing across Colorado courts.
An internal affairs report from the CBI in 2024 revealed that concerns about Woods' work had emerged more than a decade prior. In 2014, a colleague questioned her evidence testing, and she was temporarily removed from DNA case work in 2018 following accusations of data manipulation.
State officials estimate that addressing the fallout from Woods' actions could cost over $11 million.