Former Colorado Analyst Pleads Guilty in DNA Testing Scandal
Woods admitted manipulating DNA data in 1,045 cases, and prosecutors said the plea guarantees prison time while dozens of other counts were dismissed.
- On Tuesday, former Colorado Bureau of Investigation forensic scientist Yvonne "Missy" Woods pleaded guilty to four felonies—cybercrime, perjury, attempting to influence a public servant, and forgery—resolving a scandal casting doubt on DNA evidence in more than 1,000 criminal cases.
- An internal investigation revealed Woods manipulated DNA data in at least 1,045 cases during her 29-year career, deleting information in sex assault cases "because it was easy" to speed up the testing process and boost productivity.
- The misconduct triggered at least one overturned murder conviction in a 1994 Boulder case, while Colorado allocated more than $7 million to address the fallout and courts across the state manage hundreds of post-conviction challenges.
- Colorado Bureau of Investigation Director Armando Saldate described Woods' actions as "intentional criminal fraud," stating the agency has implemented forensic reforms to ensure accuracy; Judge Andrew Poland scheduled sentencing for September 8.
- Victims like Tamara Harney, whose father was killed in 1985, hope Woods receives maximum prison time; the judiciary continues managing forensic backlogs and case reviews that will extend far beyond this resolution.
37 Articles
37 Articles
Associated Press News
Former Colorado analyst pleads guilty in DNA testing scandal
A former analyst with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation who was accused of cutting corners and bucking testing protocols has pleaded guilty to four felonies stemming from a DNA testing scandal.
Former Colorado crime lab scientist accused of misreporting DNA pleads guilty to reduced charges
GOLDEN, Colo. (CN) — A former Colorado crime lab scientist faces up to 16 years in prison after pleading guilty on Tuesday to four charges related to mishandling criminal evidence. “Ms. Woods knowingly and without authorization deleted records,” said Darren Kafka, chief deputy district attorney for the First Judicial District, in court. In January 2025, the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office filed more than 100 criminal charges against fo…
Former Colorado DNA analyst pleads guilty to manipulating data in agreement with prosecutors
A former DNA analyst with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation changed her plea to guilty in court on Tuesday to four charges, as part of an agreement in which prosecutors dropped 100 other counts she was facing.
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