Former Colorado DNA Analyst Sentenced to 10 Years for Evidence Manipulation
A former Colorado Bureau of Investigation analyst received a 10-year prison sentence for falsifying DNA data, impacting hundreds of criminal cases.
POLICY WIRE — Golden, Colo. — A judge handed down a 10-year prison sentence on Tuesday to a former Colorado Bureau of Investigation forensic analyst whose manipulation of DNA data cast doubt on the integrity of hundreds of criminal proceedings.
Yvonne “Missy” Woods, who resigned in 2023 following a career spanning decades, appeared before state District Judge Andrew Poland in Golden. She had previously entered a guilty plea in June to charges including perjury, forgery, attempting to influence a public servant, and committing a cybercrime, while dozens of additional counts were dropped as part of a plea deal.
The scope of the misconduct reached across various serious offenses, including homicide, sexual assault, and robbery. Authorities were forced to conduct extensive reviews of hundreds of files, leading to at least one murder conviction being vacated.
During the hearing, Woods offered an apology, acknowledging the gravity of her actions. “For many years I was entrusted with evidence that could have profound consequences for defendants, victims, families and the courts. I failed that responsibility. I am deeply sorry for that failure,” she stated.
The investigation into Woods’ practices was triggered in September 2023 after an intern identified missing information in a 2018 case file. Investigators alleged that Woods admitted to altering data to expedite the completion of her casework, while also accusing her of deleting records of troubleshooting failures and failing to document testing procedures properly.
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The fallout has been significant, with Michael Clark released from prison in 2025 after his legal team successfully argued that Woods mishandled DNA evidence in his case; prosecutors have indicated they intend to retry him. Furthermore, two homicide defendants secured reduced sentences through plea agreements due to concerns that Woods’ involvement would jeopardize trial outcomes.
A 2024 internal affairs report from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation indicated that red flags regarding Woods’ work appeared as early as 2014. By 2018, she had been temporarily removed from DNA assignments following allegations of data manipulation.
Bureau Director Armando Saldate emphasized that the agency is working to restore public trust through laboratory reforms. “The actions of one individual never define this organization, and they do not define the dedicated public servants who continued showing up every day with integrity,” Saldate said.
State officials estimate that the total cost of responding to the scandal could exceed $11 million. Legal challenges to convictions linked to Woods’ work continue to emerge in courts throughout Colorado.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
