A former Colorado Bureau of Investigation DNA scientist deliberately cut corners and failed to follow standard testing protocols, raising questions about hundreds of cases in which she processed evidence, the agency said Friday, calling it “an unprecedented breach of trust.”
The investigation found that Yvonne “Missy” Woods manipulated data during the DNA testing process and in some cases posted incomplete test results, but did not find that she falsified DNA matches or otherwise fabricated DNA profiles, the agency said.
“The discovery calls into question all of her work,” the agency said in a statement, adding that it was “reviewing all of her previous work for data manipulation to ensure the integrity of all CBI laboratory results.”
Researchers found 652 cases affected by Woods’ data manipulation between 2008 and 2023, the agency said. They are still reviewing additional work from 1994.
Woods worked for the laboratory for 29 years. The CBI became aware of irregularities in its work in September 2023. She was placed on administrative leave in early October and retired on Nov. 6, the agency said.
The Colorado Department of Public Safety asked the Legislature in January $7.5 million to pay for an independent lab to retest up to 3,000 DNA samples and for prosecutors to review and potentially retry cases affected by lab errors to prosecute.
Woods is also under criminal investigation, officials said.
“Public confidence in our institutions is critical to the fulfillment of our mission,” CBI Director Chris Schaefer said in a statement. “Our actions in correcting this unprecedented breach of trust will be thorough and transparent.”
Although the investigation found that Woods deviated from standard protocols, “she has long maintained that she never created or falsely reported incriminating DNA matches or exclusions, nor testified falsely at a hearing or trial that resulted in a false conviction or unjust imprisonment.” Attorney Ryan Brackley said in a statement to The Associated Press on Friday.
“To the extent that the findings of the internal investigation will call into question her good work, Ms. Woods will continue to cooperate to preserve the integrity of her work that has resulted in true and just criminal findings,” Brackley said.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation said Woods should have completed additional testing to ensure the reliability of her results, as required by laboratory policy.
Investigators found that Woods deleted and altered data to conceal her tampering with controls, deleted data that showed she had failed to resolve issues within the testing process, and failed to provide thorough documentation of certain tests performed in files.
During the course of the investigation, the CBI found evidence that a DNA analyst who had worked for the Weld County Sheriff’s Office at the Northern Colorado Regional Forensic Laboratory in Greeley, Colorado, may also have manipulated DNA test data. The analyst was fired on Feb. 28 and the county plans to pursue criminal charges, the sheriff’s office announced on March 1.
