Photo: Jefferson County District Attorney
A former Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) analyst, Yvonne "Missy" Woods, faces over 100 criminal charges for allegedly altering reports in sexual assault cases. Woods, who worked at the CBI from January 1994 until her retirement in November 2023, is accused of manipulating DNA data in more than 30 sexual assault cases, among other offenses.
The 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. According to the First Judicial District Attorney's Office, these charges stem from 58 instances of alleged misconduct. Woods allegedly altered quantification values, reran DNA batches without documentation, and concealed potential contamination.
An internal investigation began in September 2023 after a CBI intern discovered discrepancies in Woods' work. This led to an external investigation by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, which concluded in December 2024. The investigation revealed that Woods submitted reports stating "No Male DNA Found" in cases where male DNA or contamination was present.
Woods turned herself in to the Jefferson County Jail and is being held on a $50,000 cash-only bond. The financial impact of Woods' alleged misconduct is estimated to exceed $11 million.
A Wisconsin-based firm has been contracted to review CBI's policies and procedures to prevent future issues.