Former CBI DNA Analyst Charged with Forgery and Misconduct
A former DNA analyst for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Yvonne "Missy" Woods, 64, has been charged with more than 100 criminal offenses, including forgery, perjury, and cybercrime, following allegations of manipulating evidence in criminal cases. The charges come after an internal CBI investigation, initiated in September 2023, revealed that Woods had intentionally omitted DNA test results and altered data from 2008 to 2023. She was booked into Jefferson County Jail on Tuesday with a bond set at $50,000.
CBI leaders expressed their commitment to addressing the breach of trust, with Director Chris Schaefer emphasizing the importance of public confidence in the agency. Jefferson County District Attorney Alexis King stated that her office would carefully review all affected cases to ensure justice for defendants and victims alike. In light of the misconduct, CBI has identified 1,003 cases linked to Woods and is conducting further reviews of her work dating back to 1994.
The criminal charges against Woods include 52 counts of forgery, 48 counts of attempting to influence a public servant, one count of first-degree perjury, and one count of cybercrime. Investigators uncovered that Woods had asked colleagues to delete files and had neglected to log significant updates in the testing process.
The fallout from Woods’ actions has been costly; estimates suggest that CBI’s rectification efforts may exceed $11 million. The CBI has brought in an external consulting firm to evaluate their forensic operations and response measures.
Woods is expected to appear in court on Thursday. Reached for comment, her attorney declined to speak on the matter. The implications of this case raise critical concerns about forensic integrity and public trust in law enforcement agencies.