Denver, Colorado – Criminal convictions in Colorado are under scrutiny as authorities investigate a DNA analyst accused of manipulating testing samples over a span of 29 years. The analyst, Yvonne “Missy” Woods, is alleged to have tampered with data during her career at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s crime lab.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation announced that 652 cases have been affected by Woods’ actions, with 3,000 samples needing re-testing. Although no charges have been filed against Woods, officials are closely examining all of her work dating back to 1994. To address the potential impact of her actions, the CBI has set aside $7.5 million for new tests, retrials, and possible compensation for wrongful convictions.
According to the statement issued by the CBI, the tampering by Woods is believed to be intentional, casting doubt on the reliability of her work. Officials identified instances where Woods deleted, altered, and omitted data in criminal justice records. While her actions did not involve falsifying DNA matches, they raised concerns about the accuracy of her testing procedures.
Woods’ attorney stated that she is cooperating with the investigation and defending the integrity of her work. The lawyer emphasized that Woods maintained she never falsified DNA matches or gave misleading testimony that led to false convictions. Despite this, a criminal probe into Woods’ activities is ongoing as authorities seek to establish the full extent of her actions.
The CBI emphasized the importance of public trust in institutions, expressing a commitment to thorough and transparent actions to address the breach. In response to the revelations about Woods, the CBI has initiated an audit of all DNA analysts, leading to the discovery of another scientist, Chiara Wuensch, who was fired after anomalies were found in her work at the Weld County Sheriff’s Office. Wuensch is now the subject of a separate investigation.