Yvonne “Missy” Woods, the former Colorado Bureau of Investigation DNA analyst whose work has been tied to apparent data manipulation in hundreds of criminal cases, is set to be back in Jefferson County court this week. Her return is dragging a years-long forensic scandal back into the spotlight, as prosecutors, defense attorneys, and state agencies continue re-examining convictions and retesting evidence. The upcoming hearing is expected to help determine how and when Woods’ investigative file will be turned over to defendants trying to challenge past prosecutions.
Woods is facing a 102-count felony indictment that includes 52 counts of forgery, 48 counts of attempting to influence a public servant, one count of first-degree perjury, and a cybercrime charge, according to CBS News Colorado. She was booked into the Jefferson County jail on bond, and her attorney has declined to comment, the outlet reported.
What the CBI found
An internal review by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation concluded that Woods altered or omitted DNA testing data and identified 654 cases as affected, while also stating that investigators found no evidence she fabricated DNA matches, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. In response, the agency says it is auditing Woods’ caseload, rechecking older work, and bringing in outside reviewers as part of a broader overhaul of its lab procedures.
Charges and legal stakes
Prosecutors allege that Woods’ reported shortcuts, including deleting or altering data and failing to document contamination, could destabilize prosecutions in cases ranging from sexual assault to homicide. The cost to the state to retest and re-evaluate affected cases has been estimated at about $11 million, and the scandal has already triggered motions, appeals, and at least one request for a retrial, according to The Washington Post.
Court fights over disclosure
Defendants and innocence organizations have been pushing for access to Woods’ investigative file, but judges and lawyers across Colorado have sparred over how that should happen. In January, the Colorado Supreme Court clarified that trial judges can order disclosure of the file to defendants, while also stressing procedural requirements such as proper service and adherence to subpoena rules. That ruling has complicated efforts to distribute Woods’ file on a broader, statewide basis, according to Colorado Politics.
What the hearing could change
This week’s hearing could shape discovery timelines in multiple appeals and help decide whether prosecutors must hand over additional materials to defense teams seeking to reopen convictions. Defense motions and lawsuits in Jefferson County and beyond argue that lab records and “technical review” logs reveal serious oversight gaps, with one civil case and its filings highlighting claims that some reviews lasted only minutes, according to reporting by The Denver Gazette…