A former scientist at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation specializing in DNA analysis is currently facing a total of 102 charges, which include numerous counts of forgery. Authorities have accused her of neglecting proper testing protocols in a significant number of criminal cases, leading to serious integrity concerns regarding her work. Yvonne “Missy” Woods was scheduled to appear in a state district court in Jefferson County for her initial hearing on Thursday. After dedicating nearly three decades to the forensic lab, she retired in November 2023.
According to a recently released arrest warrant affidavit by prosecutors, the legitimacy of over 500 cases has been undermined due to Woods’ manipulation of data. Currently, she is in custody at Jefferson County Jail, with a bond set at $50,000. Her legal representation has yet to provide a statement following inquiries made regarding the matter.
The investigation into Woods’ alleged wrongdoing commenced in September 2023 when an intern noticed discrepancies in a case that she had processed in 2018. As authorities delved deeper into her past work, they uncovered a pattern of altered data designed to hide signs of tampering. Reports indicate she deleted information demonstrating her failure to adequately address issues during testing and did not maintain complete and accurate documentation of tests in official case records.
Woods faces a range of charges: 52 counts of forgery, 48 counts for attempting to influence a public servant, and individual counts for perjury and cybercrime related to her actions from 2008 through 2023. An internal affairs report from the Colorado Bureau of Investigations noted that concerns regarding Woods’ performance came to light over a decade ago, detailing incidents from 2014 where colleagues questioned her testing methods, and in 2018 when she was temporarily barred from DNA case responsibilities due to allegations of data manipulation.
The repercussions of her alleged misconduct are ongoing. For instance, a recent case expected to be influenced by her work involved a Colorado man, Garrett Coughlin, who pled guilty to lesser charges associated with the 2017 killings of three individuals. Prosecutors had to offer him a guilty plea to second-degree murder partly due to their inability to present Woods as a witness, as the case mostly depended on circumstantial evidence.
This plea deal helped Coughlin escape a potential life sentence for felony murder after his initial conviction was annulled due to the discovery that at least one juror had lied during jury selection.
The financial toll from addressing Woods’ alleged misconduct is substantial, estimated at over $11 million. Among these expenses, the Colorado Department of Public Safety requested $7.5 million from the Legislature last year, aiming to finance an independent lab to reevaluate as many as 3,000 DNA samples and ensure district attorneys assess and potentially retrial affected cases resulting from laboratory errors.
In a proactive measure, state officials declared on Tuesday that they have enlisted a consulting firm to conduct a thorough review of the state’s forensic program. Bureau of Investigations Director Chris Schaefer stated that the engagement of Forward Resolutions LLC signifies the agency’s commitment to accountability in light of the allegations surrounding Woods.
