Colorado Crime Analyst Sentenced for Falsifying DNA Evidence — Hundreds of Cases Now in Chaos

BREAKING: Colorado DNA analyst Yvonne “Missy” Woods sentenced to 10 years after deleting male DNA in 32 rape cases — then reporting none was found.

She spent 29 years as CBI’s star expert. Investigators now say 1,045 of her cases are tainted. Over 400 were sexual assaults.… pic.twitter.com/ox0krW5cyF

— GRANDPA’s FREE ADVICE (@GOP_is_Gutless) September 11, 2026

Click to expand...

BREAKING: Colorado DNA analyst Yvonne “Missy” Woods sentenced to 10 years after deleting male DNA in 32 rape cases — then reporting none was found.

She spent 29 years as CBI’s star expert. Investigators now say 1,045 of her cases are tainted. Over 400 were sexual assaults. One murder conviction already tossed.

An intern caught her. Concerns were raised more than a decade earlier. She kept testing rape kits anyway.
In court, supporters packed the room. Victims shouted “LIAR! LIAR! LIAR!” as she was cuffed and led out.

Colorado is now retesting more than 1,000 cases.

Prosecutors already cut plea deals in three murder cases rather than risk her work in front of a jury.

Click to expand...

She had pleaded guilty in June to four felony counts: cybercrime, first-degree perjury, attempting to influence a public servant and forgery. The charges were related to the misconduct Wood committed between 2008 and 2023 when she served as a forensic scientist with the CBI.

Woods apologized in court Tuesday, saying her actions affected the integrity of the criminal justice system and the people involved in the cases she worked on.

“I take responsibility for the conduct and for the offenses to which I pleaded guilty, and I know that an apology cannot undo the harm,” she said, per the press statement. “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 and for the consequences that followed.”

In imposing the sentence, Judge Andrew Poland in Golden, Colo., described the case as “intentional misconduct by a highly trained professional occupying a position of extraordinary trust,” according to the D.A.’s office.

The investigation began in September 2023, when a CBI intern discovered missing DNA data in a sample Woods had processed in 2018. A broader review found similar alterations and deletions, leading CBI to request an independent criminal investigation by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (SDDCI).

Investigators ultimately identified 53 cases involving false or misleading lab reports that contained statements attributed to Woods. Of those, 41 did not result in criminal charges against a suspect, including 32 involving women and children who reported sexual assault, according to the release.

In those cases, Woods deleted values indicating that male DNA was present and then issued reports stating that no male DNA had been found, prosecutors said. “Her conduct eliminated opportunities for additional testing, comparison and investigation,” the release states.

Twelve false lab reports were tied to cases in which criminal charges were filed against a suspect. Three of those cases went to trial, with one resulting in a conviction and two ending in acquittals. Woods pleaded guilty to perjury based on false testimony she gave during the trial that resulted in a first-degree murder conviction, prosecutors said.

Of the remaining nine cases, six resulted in plea agreements, two were dismissed and one remains in warrant status.

Click to expand...

According to an arrest affidavit, Woods allegedly told investigators at one point that she had changed data to complete cases more quickly.

In the vacated murder case, Michael Clark was released from prison in 2025 after his lawyers argued that DNA evidence was mishandled by Woods. Prosecutors said they would seek to retry him.

In two homicide cases, the defendants received lesser sentences under plea deals than they could have faced if they went to trial because prosecutors were afraid Woods’ involvement could lead to acquittals.

Convictions in other cases also have been challenged in courts across Colorado.

A Colorado Bureau of Investigation internal affairs report in 2024 revealed that concerns about Woods’ work first surfaced more than a decade ago. As early as 2014, a worker questioned her testing of evidence, and in 2018 she was temporarily removed from working on DNA cases after being accused of data manipulation, the report said.

Click to expand...

An independent review led DCL to fully re-examine three of those cases, as well as an additional 10 sexual assault cases in Denver, making the total 13. According to the statement, that work was conducted between April 2025 and March 2026.

“Re-testing efforts produced CODIS-eligible DNA profiles in 11 of the 13 cases examined,” the statement read. “Additionally, six of those 11 cases generated investigative leads through CODIS database associations, linking evidentiary profiles to potential suspects or other criminal investigations.”

The Denver Police Department added that it cannot disclose which cases were involved, as they are the subject of an active investigation/proceeding, but that final reports will eventually be given to the District Attorney’s Office.

Click to expand...

A new kind of monster is born. https://t.co/hDbx2uMebP

— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) September 12, 2026

Click to expand...

Why would she do this? https://t.co/I3ODFbspqk

— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) September 12, 2026

Click to expand...

Why on earth would she protect the rapists instead of the victims?

— True Freedom (@FreedmRings) September 12, 2026

Click to expand...

How many rapists escaped and went on to rape more victims because of her. 10 years is not long enough.

— PatriotLady (@PatriotLadyLucy) September 12, 2026

Click to expand...

That ain’t nearly long enough. Needs to be ten years for each case. https://t.co/XgXQtCiUSU

— EarthtoGazelle (@EarthToGazelle) September 12, 2026

Click to expand...

Imagine th damage she’s done. They can’t lock her up long enough. She’s a monster.

— Jeff Clark (@jeff_clark1) September 12, 2026

Click to expand...