Former Colorado analyst pleads guilty in DNA testing scandal that forced a review of hundreds of cases
Yvonne 'Missy' Woods, a former forensic analyst, pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges related to evidence manipulation, impacting numerous criminal cases in Colorado.
Yvonne "Missy" Woods, a former forensic analyst with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), pleaded guilty on Tuesday to four felony charges linked to allegations of evidence manipulation that has raised serious concerns about the integrity of hundreds of criminal cases.
Woods entered guilty pleas for charges including cybercrime, perjury, attempting to influence a public servant, and forgery. As part of a plea agreement, numerous other charges were dismissed. Originally slated to stand trial later this year, Woods is now expected to face a prison sentence ranging from 8 to 16 years during her sentencing in September.
The allegations against Woods, who resigned in 2023 after a lengthy career, included accusations of altering evidence to hide tampering, erasing data that indicated she failed to troubleshoot issues, and inadequately documenting tests within case files. The investigation into her actions initiated in September 2023, prompted by an intern at the bureau who uncovered missing information in a case managed by Woods in 2018. According to an arrest affidavit, Woods allegedly admitted to modifying data to expedite the completion of cases.
Woods' work has been scrutinized in relation to various serious criminal cases, including homicides, sexual assaults, and robberies, leading prosecutors to reassess hundreds of cases. Notably, at least one murder conviction was overturned due to her misconduct; Michael Clark was released from prison in 2025 after his legal team argued that DNA evidence had been mishandled by Woods, although prosecutors are moving to retry him.
In two homicide cases, defendants accepted plea deals that resulted in lesser sentences due to concerns that Woods' involvement might result in acquittals had the cases proceeded to trial. Additionally, convictions in other cases are currently being contested in courts throughout Colorado.
State officials have indicated that the fallout from Woods' actions could exceed $11 million. In a statement released on Tuesday, the CBI characterized Woods' conduct as deliberate criminal fraud, emphasizing that her actions do not reflect the bureau's established practices.
Armando Saldate, the bureau director, commented on the situation, stating, "This moment is not about moving on, for CBI it’s about moving forward. Today’s guilty plea is an important moment of accountability." The bureau has indicated it is implementing changes and is dedicated to adhering to best practices in forensic science as utilized nationally.
