SHE MANIPULATED DNA DATA FOR YEARS — NOW HUNDREDS OF CRIMINAL CASES ARE UNDER REVIEW

A former forensic analyst has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after admitting to manipulating DNA-related data in criminal investigations — a scandal that has now cast doubt over hundreds of cases.

Yvonne “Missy” Woods, 66, worked for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for nearly three decades. Prosecutors say her misconduct occurred between 2008 and 2023, when she altered or deleted information connected to forensic testing.

Woods pleaded guilty in June to felony charges including cybercrime, first-degree perjury, attempting to influence a public servant and forgery.

On Sept. 8, a Colorado judge sentenced her to 10 years in state prison.

THE DISCOVERY THAT STARTED IT ALL

The investigation began in September 2023 after a CBI intern noticed missing DNA information in a sample Woods had processed years earlier.

A broader review uncovered similar problems in other cases.

Investigators eventually identified 53 cases involving false or misleading laboratory reports attributed to Woods.

Of those, 41 never resulted in criminal charges. Prosecutors said 32 involved women and children who had reported sexual assault.

In some cases, authorities said Woods deleted values indicating the presence of male DNA and then issued reports saying that no male DNA had been detected.

That meant investigators could lose opportunities for additional testing, comparisons and further investigation.

HUNDREDS MORE CASES COULD BE AFFECTED

The 53 cases were only part of the problem.

Prosecutors said Woods’ manipulation of information in laboratory notes affected hundreds of additional cases, even though those changes did not necessarily lead to false reports.

Cases involving homicide, sexual assault, robbery and other crimes have been examined as officials try to determine the full impact.

At least one murder conviction was vacated, while other convictions and cases have faced challenges or additional review.

Importantly, investigators said they did not find evidence that Woods created false DNA matches, false comparisons or false-positive results.

But the manipulation of underlying data was still serious enough to undermine confidence in forensic work connected to her cases.

A CAREER BUILT ON TRUST

Woods joined the Colorado Bureau of Investigation in 1994 and remained there until 2023.

During sentencing, Judge Andrew Poland described the conduct as intentional misconduct by a highly trained professional working in a position of extraordinary trust.

Woods apologized in court and acknowledged that the evidence she handled could have enormous consequences for defendants, victims, families and courts.

But by then, the damage had already spread far beyond a single case.

The CBI has since announced reforms aimed at strengthening laboratory procedures and rebuilding public confidence.

And prosecutors continue to review cases potentially connected to Woods’ work.

For a system that relies on forensic science to help establish the truth, one question now hangs over hundreds of investigations:

HOW MANY CASES COULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT IF THE DNA DATA HAD BEEN LEFT UNTOUCHED?