Over 1000 Colorado Criminal Cases Under Review After DNA Analyst Charged With Misconduct

Colorado DNA Analyst Yvonne “Missy” Woods Facing 102 Criminal Charges for Misconduct Related to Faulty DNA Testing

A recent forensic scandal may have compromised the integrity of DNA evidence used in many criminal cases across the state of Colorado.

In particular, more than 1000 cases from 1994-2023 are currently under review due to faulty DNA testing. It has come to light that a Colorado Bureau of Investigations (CBI) DNA analyst manipulated, altered, or omitted relevant data from test results.

The analyst at the center of the scandal has been identified as Yvonne “Missy” Woods, who worked as a DNA scientist for nearly 30 years. An internal investigation found that she submitted incomplete results and cut corners throughout her work.

She is currently facing 102 felony counts related to official misconduct. Investigators have not yet found instances where DNA “matches” have been falsified, but the reliability of her work used in many cases has since been called into question.

District attorneys across Colorado are sending out letters to alert defendants if their case relied upon Ms. Woods’ DNA testing. The notification process varies from district to district, and many people are only recently learning if their particular case may require additional scrutiny.

So far, one criminal conviction has already been vacated because it was based on unreliable DNA evidence handled by Ms. Woods. If you have received a notification from a district attorney or if you believe that DNA testing for your case was performed by Ms. Woods, it is critical that you seek legal guidance.

A thorough case review may be necessary to determine whether your civil rights were violated by faulty DNA testing. If they were, you may be eligible for post-conviction relief or other forms of legal remedy.

Don’t Wait: You can call DeChant Law today for a risk-free case evaluation at 303-409-7500.

How DNA Evidence Can Become Compromised

It is vital that safeguards are taken to preserve the integrity of DNA evidence, given the critical role it can play in criminal convictions. According to Puritan, “Because very small DNA samples can be used as evidence, investigators and laboratory personnel must be extremely careful about contamination issues when identifying, collecting, and preserving samples. If contamination occurs, the evidence might never make it to the courtroom.” They are many different ways that DNA evidence can become compromised.

• Unprotected Handling: Investigators may touch evidence without any gloves or use the same gloves to handle multiple pieces of evidence.
• Heat: High temperatures can accelerate the rate at which DNA strands break down.
• Improper Storage: Labs may fail to refrigerate biological samples when required.
• Labeling: DNA analysts may make labeling errors or fail to follow chain-of-custody protocols.
• Laboratory Errors: A laboratory may use low-quality or degraded reagents that failed to preserve DNA.

Unfortunately, mistakes such as these happen more often than prosecutors are willing to admit. These errors tend to be preventable when the right safety protocols are in place. But in far too many situations, lab operators may rush to complete their work. Challenging compromised DNA evidence can be critical to seeking justice after being convicted of any crime.

How Faulty DNA Evidence Could Impact Your Criminal Conviction

The introduction of DNA evidence in criminal trials has profoundly impacted the legal landscape. This evidence has been used to convict many people of crimes. According to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, “When DNA evidence is available that matches the suspects in sexual assault cases, prosecutors are more likely to litigate and the odds of conviction are more than nine times greater than cases without biological evidence, a new study found.” There are a number of ways that faulty DNA evidence could impact a criminal prosecution.

• Innocence: When new DNA testing disproves old DNA results, it can lay the groundwork for post-conviction relief and demonstrate that a suspect was actually innocent.
• Undermines Guilt: In cases where DNA was the main evidence used for a conviction, faulty evidence could lead to a conviction being overturned.
• Inadmissible: If there were errors in the handling of DNA evidence, it could lead to that evidence no longer being admissible in a criminal case.

Being convicted of a crime can be one of the most stressful and challenging periods of a person’s life. Being convicted of a crime based on faulty evidence can be unbearable. But there is hope for those who have been impacted by faulty DNA evidence in their criminal trial. They may be able to pursue some measure of justice and accountability through a civil claim and have their conviction vacated.

Getting Legal Help After Being Charged With a Crime Based on Faulty Evidence

DeChant Law is currently assisting individuals who have been notified by the state that their case may be impacted. Even if you have not been contacted thus far, your case may still have been compromised. Our attorneys are available to provide a confidential review of your case and advise you on any potential next steps. There is absolutely no cost to contact our office and allow us to determine whether your particular case may be impacted.

Have you or someone that you care about been convicted of a crime based on DNA evidence in Colorado? Were you recently contacted by a district attorney who said that your case may be affected by the Yvonne “Missy” Woods scandal? You may have legal recourse. Our team of criminal defense attorneys is here for you. We are committed to upholding the constitutional rights of all people throughout the state. Whether you just have legal questions or need any other type of assistance, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at 303-409-7500.