 |
Yvonne “Missy” Woods, a former DNA analyst at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), is facing 102 criminal charges, including 52 counts of forgery, 48 counts of attempting to influence a public servant, and additional charges of perjury and cybercrime. These allegations stem from accusations that Woods tampered with data in more than 500 criminal cases spanning from 2008 to 2023.
The investigation began in September 2023 when a CBI intern uncovered missing data in a case handled by Woods in 2018. Subsequent findings revealed that she had altered and deleted critical evidence, covering up procedural errors and leaving incomplete records in numerous case files. Her actions reportedly compromised investigations into major crimes, such as murders, sexual assaults, and robberies.
The fallout has been significant. The state has spent over $11 million in response, including the cost of hiring an independent lab to reanalyze up to 3,000 DNA samples and assisting prosecutors in reassessing cases potentially impacted by Woods’ misconduct. One notable instance involved a man who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder because prosecutors could not call Woods as a witness due to her questionable practices.
CBI has initiated reforms to restore trust in its forensic program, hiring an external consulting firm to review its operations. Officials continue to work to mitigate the damage caused by Woods’ alleged actions, while the validity of numerous past convictions remains in doubt.
Woods’ case highlights the critical role of integrity in forensic science and the far-reaching consequences when that trust is broken.
