A now-former forensic scientist with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) manipulated or omitted DNA test results in hundreds of cases, an internal affairs investigation found, which prompted a full review of her work during her nearly 30-year career at the agency.
The CBI released the findings of the investigation into Yvonne “Missy” Woods Friday, which concluded Woods’ handling of DNA testing data affected 652 cases between 2008 and 2023, including posting incomplete results in some cases. A review of her work from 1994 to 2008 is also underway, according to the CBI.
“This discovery puts all of her work in question, and CBI is in the process of reviewing all her previous work for data manipulation to ensure the integrity of all CBI laboratory results,” the agency said. “CBI brought in third-party investigative resources to protect the integrity of the inquiry.”
Woods, a 29-year veteran of the agency’s crime lab, was placed on administrative leave in October after the CBI became aware DNA sample testing performed by Woods “may have deviated from standard operating procedures,” the agency said. She didn’t perform any laboratory work thereafter and retired on November 6, it said.
Including sex offenses…
Spreading the word in case anyone in CO could be impacted…
Oh, my word. That is so scary.
Not surprised really. I will bet there are others who are doing or have done the same. That they caught this person and admitted to her crime is what surprises me. Glad someone did.
No doubt she had a long career because she kept giving prosecutors what they wanted, whether valid or not. 😒
Not the first time something life this has been exposed, and no reason to think it will be the last.
People that work in these “crime labs” are not motivated to find the facts of the evidence that are examining, they are motivated to find evidence of guilt. If a laboratory test doesn’t lead to conviction, State isn’t going to continue to pay for it. State buys evidence of guilt, not innocence.
Cops, DA, AG, Elected… they want Scientific Proof of….guilt. That’s the only thing of value to them. Evidence that the person they arrested and put on trial for a crime is innocent? Oh hell no, they aren’t paying for that! Proof that they arrested and charged the wrong person, while leaving the real culprit at large? Great way to destroy your career, and maybe drag down a whole lot of others with you!
So we have a system that rewards one kind of result, and penalizes anything else, then pretends it will always produce the truth. Let’s all magic think that real.
This is yet another example of what I’ve been calling “Disposable Society”. If people in our society actually had value, the inescapable reality of how rigged this whole system is would have been pointed out decades ago and fixed, replaced, or lived without. It continues because nobody in our society has value, so the rigged results are just fine… doesn’t matter how many “innocent people” are sent away, because we can just presume everybody is guilty of something, and not care if that’s wrong, because nothing of value is ever lost.
If anybody points out the corrupt nature of that presumption, just demand that you are right and they are… naive, stupid, corrupt… whatever…. then let the popularity of your opinion prove you are right! Popularity = Legitimacy!