A former Colorado forensic analyst has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after admitting to misconduct involving DNA evidence that cast doubt on hundreds of criminal cases across the state. Yvonne “Missy” Woods, a longtime analyst with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, pleaded guilty to several felony offenses after investigators uncovered years of altered, deleted and improperly documented laboratory data.
Former Forensic Analyst Admits to Multiple Felonies
Woods was sentenced Tuesday in Golden, Colorado, following her guilty pleas to charges including perjury, forgery, attempting to influence a public servant and cybercrime. Several additional charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Authorities said Woods manipulated laboratory information in an effort to deal with testing problems and complete cases more quickly. Investigators found instances in which data was altered, information was deleted and testing procedures were not fully documented in case files.
The misconduct affected investigations involving serious crimes, including homicide, sexual assault and robbery. Prosecutors subsequently had to examine a large number of cases in which Woods had handled or analyzed evidence.
Woods resigned from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation in 2023 following a career spanning several decades. During her sentencing, she apologized for failing in her responsibility to properly handle evidence that could affect defendants, victims, families and the courts.
DNA Scandal Raises Questions About Hundreds of Criminal Cases
The investigation into Woods began in 2023 after an intern reportedly discovered missing information connected to a case she had worked on several years earlier. Authorities later uncovered broader problems with her laboratory work.
An internal investigation indicated that concerns about Woods’ work had emerged years before the criminal investigation. Questions about her testing methods were raised as early as 2014, while she was temporarily removed from DNA-related casework in 2018 following allegations involving data manipulation.
The consequences have extended beyond Woods’ conviction. Prosecutors have been forced to reassess evidence in numerous criminal cases, with at least one murder conviction overturned after defense attorneys challenged the reliability of DNA evidence connected to Woods’ work.
Michael Clark, whose murder conviction was overturned, was released from prison in 2025. Prosecutors have indicated they may seek a new trial.
Other defendants have also benefited from reduced plea agreements because prosecutors were concerned that Woods’ involvement with evidence could create problems at trial. Additional convictions connected to her work have faced legal challenges.
Colorado Faces Costly Review and Laboratory Reforms
The DNA scandal has also placed significant pressure on Colorado’s criminal justice and forensic systems. State officials have warned that reviewing affected cases and responding to the fallout could ultimately cost more than $11 million.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has said it is implementing laboratory reforms as officials work to restore confidence in its forensic operations.
The case has highlighted the importance of accurate DNA testing and transparent evidence handling in criminal investigations. Because forensic results can influence arrests, prosecutions and convictions, any alteration or incomplete documentation can have consequences far beyond the laboratory.
For prosecutors, defense attorneys and families connected to affected cases, the review of Woods’ work is expected to remain an important part of Colorado’s efforts to determine whether past criminal convictions were based on reliable evidence.
