A former forensic analyst for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for manipulating DNA data, a move that has cast doubt on hundreds of criminal cases and led to the vacating of at least one murder conviction. Yvonne “Missy” Woods pleaded guilty in June to charges including perjury, attempting to influence a public servant, forgery, and committing a cybercrime. As part of a plea agreement, dozens of other charges were dismissed.
Impact on Criminal Cases
The scientist's misconduct affected cases involving homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and other serious crimes, according to authorities. Prosecutors have had to review hundreds of cases, and at least one murder conviction has been overturned due to Woods' actions. In one homicide case, the defendant received a lesser sentence through a plea deal because prosecutors feared Woods' involvement in the evidence could lead to acquittals. Concerns about Woods' work first surfaced more than a decade ago, with questions raised about her evidence testing in 2014 and a temporary removal from DNA cases in 2018 following accusations of data manipulation.
Investigation and Misconduct Details
The investigation into Woods’ misconduct began in September 2023 after an intern discovered missing information in a 2018 case handled by Woods. An arrest affidavit indicated that Woods allegedly told investigators at one point that she had altered data to expedite case completion. Authorities accused her of falsifying data to hide tampering, deleting information that indicated she had failed to troubleshoot testing issues, and not adequately documenting tests in case records.
Legal and Financial Repercussions
In the vacated murder case of Michael Clark, his lawyers successfully argued that DNA evidence was mishandled by Woods, leading to his release from prison in 2025. Prosecutors have stated their intention to retry him. The response to Woods’ actions is projected to cost state officials more than $11 million.
Agency Response
Woods resigned in 2023 after a long career with the bureau. During her sentencing hearing, Woods apologized for her actions, acknowledging that her apology would 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," she stated. Colorado Bureau of Investigation officials have indicated that they are working to reform their laboratories and rebuild public trust in the wake of the data scandal.