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3mo ago

Colorado Forensic Scientist Charged With 102 Felonies for DNA Data Manipulation

Yvonne 'Missy' Woods is accused of altering evidence in over 1,000 criminal cases, raising doubts about convictions and costing millions to address the fallout.

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Colorado Bureau of Investigation in Grand Junction.
Colorado Bureau of Investigation analyst Yvonne "Missy" Woods testifies during the Louis Sebastian murder trial at the Boulder County Justice Center on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2019. (Photo by Jeremy Papasso/Daily Camera)
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Overview

  • Yvonne 'Missy' Woods, a former Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) DNA analyst, faces 102 felony charges, including forgery, perjury, and cybercrime, for altering DNA evidence over a 15-year period.
  • An internal investigation revealed Woods manipulated data in over 1,000 cases, affecting more than 500 criminal cases and leading to significant legal and financial consequences for the state.
  • The alleged misconduct includes deleting or altering DNA results, failing to document contamination, and submitting false reports in dozens of sexual assault cases.
  • Woods retired in 2023 in lieu of termination after concerns about her work were raised repeatedly over the past decade, including a 2018 suspension for similar allegations.
  • The fallout has already cost over $11 million, with additional funding allocated for retesting evidence and reviewing convictions potentially impacted by Woods’ actions.