Colorado Crime Lab Analyst Faces Over 100 Charges for Allegedly Altering Sexual Assault Case Reports
Authorities say over 500 cases are under review due to the alleged data manipulation, costing the state more than $11 million.
A former forensic analyst at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been charged with more than 100 criminal counts amid accusations that she tampered with DNA evidence in sexual assault cases, authorities announced.
Yvonne “Missy” Woods faces 52 counts of forgery, 48 counts of attempting to influence a public servant, one count of first-degree perjury, and one count of cybercrime, according to the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office. She is accused of altering and deleting quantification values in DNA analyses, rerunning batches of evidence without documentation, and concealing potential contamination.
Investigators allege that in more than 30 sexual assault cases, Woods submitted reports stating “No Male DNA Found” when, in reality, DNA was present or contamination had occurred.
Jail records confirm Woods was in custody as of Thursday morning. An attorney listed on her arrest affidavit did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Investigation Uncovers Years of Alleged Misconduct
Concerns about Woods’ work first emerged in November 2023, when Colorado authorities requested the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation to examine her casework. She had worked at the CBI since January 1994 before retiring in November 2023.
The investigation began after a CBI intern, assigned to review quantification data, noticed missing information and alerted lab management. An internal review uncovered multiple instances of deleted or altered data in Woods’ case history, according to an affidavit.
During a recorded interview with investigators, Woods admitted that before 2017 or 2018, some levels of contamination in DNA samples were accepted. However, she acknowledged that in recent years, any contamination required additional testing, which could be time-consuming.
Woods was confronted about past discrepancies in her work, including a 2018 suspension over concerns of data manipulation. When asked why someone would delete or alter forensic data, she reportedly responded, “Being able to report the case.”
According to the affidavit, Woods admitted that the changes allowed her to move cases forward more quickly, avoiding the extra work required for additional DNA analysis.
Hundreds of Cases Now Under Scrutiny
Authorities say Woods’ alleged misconduct impacts over 500 cases dating back to 2008. As a result, these cases are now being reviewed, and some could face legal challenges due to unreliable forensic evidence.
The financial cost of the investigation and potential fallout exceeds $11 million, the district attorney’s office confirmed.
To address concerns about forensic integrity, a Wisconsin-based firm has been hired on a $770,000 contract to evaluate the CBI’s policies and procedures and recommend improvements, according to NBC affiliate KUSA in Denver.
The case raises serious concerns about the reliability of forensic evidence in criminal investigations, with potential implications for past convictions and ongoing legal proceedings in Colorado.