Yvonne “Missy” Woods, a former DNA scientist at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), is facing 102 criminal charges after being accused of misconduct in hundreds of criminal cases. The charges include forgery, data tampering, and other serious violations that have raised questions about the integrity of more than 500 criminal cases.
Allegations and Initial Discovery
Woods, who retired in November 2023 after a 29-year career at the state’s forensic lab, is accused of altering and falsifying evidence during her time at the CBI. The alleged misconduct was uncovered in September 2023 when an intern noticed missing information in a 2018 case handled by Woods.
Further investigation revealed that Woods had allegedly manipulated data to hide errors, deleted crucial information, and failed to properly document her work in case records. According to authorities, these actions violated standard testing protocols, putting the outcomes of numerous criminal cases into question.
Woods was arrested and held at the Jefferson County Jail on a $50,000 cash bond. She is facing a range of charges, including 52 counts of forgery, 48 counts of attempting to influence a public servant, and single counts of perjury and cybercrime.
Longstanding Concerns About Her Work
The arrest affidavit released by prosecutors indicates that concerns about Woods’ work were raised years before her retirement. In 2014, a colleague questioned her testing methods, and in 2018, she was temporarily removed from DNA casework due to allegations of data manipulation.
Despite these red flags, Woods continued working at the CBI until her retirement. Authorities are now scrutinizing her work spanning from 2008 to 2023, a period during which her alleged misconduct could have affected countless cases.
Impact on Criminal Cases
The fallout from Woods’ alleged actions is extensive. In the first prosecution affected by her misconduct, a Colorado man, Garrett Coughlin, pleaded guilty to lesser charges in a triple homicide case from 2017. Prosecutors were unable to call Woods as a witness, which weakened their case and led to the reduced charges.
Coughlin had initially been convicted of felony murder and faced a possible life sentence. However, his original conviction was overturned after it was discovered that a juror lied during jury selection. The inability to use Woods’ testimony further complicated the case, resulting in the plea deal.
Financial and Systemic Fallout
The response to Woods’ alleged misconduct has cost Colorado over $11 million so far. In 2023, the Colorado Department of Public Safety requested $7.5 million from the state legislature to fund the retesting of up to 3,000 DNA samples and to support district attorneys in reviewing and potentially reprosecuting affected cases.
Additionally, state officials have hired Forward Resolutions LLC, a consulting firm, to review the forensic program at the CBI. The move is part of an effort to restore public trust and ensure accountability within the agency.
CBI Director Chris Schaefer stated that the agency is committed to addressing the issues exposed by Woods’ case. “We are taking steps to hold ourselves accountable and ensure the integrity of our forensic processes moving forward,” he said in a statement.
What’s Next?
As Woods makes her initial court appearance, the legal and procedural challenges related to her alleged misconduct continue to unfold. The validity of hundreds of cases remains under review, and the full scope of the damage caused by her actions may take years to uncover.
The case has also reignited conversations about the need for stricter oversight and accountability in forensic labs to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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