Crime Lab Analyst in Trouble for Alleged Report Tampering in Colorado

Imagine altering evidence in sexual assault cases – that's what a former Colorado crime lab analyst is accused of doing. Yvonne “Missy” Woods faces over 100 criminal charges for allegedly tweaking reports to say "No Male DNA Found" when there actually was DNA or contamination present. She's charged with forgery, trying to influence public servants, perjury, and cybercrime. Woods worked at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for nearly three decades before retiring recently.

An intern at the lab first raised concerns about missing data in sexual assault cases. This led to an internal investigation that uncovered several instances of deleted or altered data. Woods admitted to handling contaminated DNA samples differently before 2017 or 2018, but she couldn't give a clear timeline for when she started altering data. She claimed it was to speed up case closures and avoid extra work. The alleged tampering affected over 500 cases starting in 2008, costing taxpayers over $11 million. Now, all these cases are under scrutiny. To fix the mess, a Wisconsin-based firm has been hired to review the bureau's policies and suggest improvements, all for a hefty $770, 000 contract.

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