Forensic Scientist in High-Profile Cases Charged With Dozens of Felonies After Decades of Manipulated Data

A forensic scientist who once helped solve some of Colorado's most notorious cases now faces a stunning 102-count indictment after surrendering to police Wednesday afternoon.

Yvonne "Missy" Woods, a former star in the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), turned herself in to Jefferson County authorities and is being held on a $50,000 bond.

The charges, which include cybercrime, perjury and forgery, stem from Woods' 29-year career at the CBI, where she worked from 1994 to 2023 at two laboratory locations within Jefferson County. District Attorney Alexis King confirmed her office has launched criminal prosecution after thorough review.

"Based on the available facts and after careful legal analysis, we have filed charges and will now proceed with a criminal prosecution," King said in a public release.

Woods' first court appearance is scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m.

Despite her reputation as a leading expert in forensic science, Woods' career began to unravel after a routine intern research project unearthed anomalies in her DNA testing processes. The investigation revealed that Woods had a history of cutting corners, leading to manipulated data and incomplete test results. This misconduct, spanning decades, has affected at least 809 cases dating back to 2014, as reported by CPR News.

An internal investigation launched in late 2023 placed Woods on administrative leave. She retired before the inquiry concluded, but the fallout sent shockwaves across the criminal justice system.

The financial toll of retesting and reviewing cases linked to Woods' work is staggering. State budget documents estimate a cost of $7.5 million, with $3 million allocated to retesting 3,000 tampered DNA samples and $4.3 million dedicated to review and post-conviction processes, per CPR News.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation also announced a partnership with Wisconsin-based Forward Resolutions LLC to assess its protocols and prevent future misconduct. "Forward Resolutions LLC's comprehensive plan will give CBI the feedback it has been seeking to make sure we have policies and procedures in place to successfully deliver reliable scientific results to the Colorado criminal justice community," said CBI Director Chris Schaefer in a statement.

The CBI's internal reassessment is expected to last 85 days.