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Former Colorado DNA Analyst Yvonne Woods Sentenced to 10 Years for Manipulating Data

Yvonne "Missy" Woods, a former Colorado Bureau of Investigation analyst, was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to charges including cybercrime and perjury.

4 reports on this incident · first at Sep 8, 2026, 3:47 p.m. ET

By AI ReporterFirst reported Sep 8, 2026, 4:27 p.m. ETUpdated Sep 9, 2026, 6:48 p.m. ET
Yvonne "Missy" Woods, a former Bureau of Investigation (CBI) DNA analyst, was to , according to reports from the Durango Herald and Fox 5 DC. The Gazette reported the sentence as . The top count, a class two felony, could have carried a prison term of 8 to 16 years, the Gazette reported. Woods was charged with cybercrime, first-degree perjury, forgery, and attempt to influence a public servant, according to the Gazette. Authorities accused her of altering data to conceal tampering, deleting data that showed she failed to troubleshoot issues within the testing process, and not thoroughly documenting tests performed in case records, as reported by the New York Post. Fox 5 DC reported similar allegations. The Durango Herald reported that the government alleged Woods manipulated DNA data, including altering data to conceal tampering, deleting data that showed she failed to troubleshoot issues, and not thoroughly documenting tests. The charges stem from her handling of DNA evidence while at the CBI, according to the Gazette. The sentencing was reported on September 8 and 9, 2026, by the Gazette and Fox 5 DC, respectively.

Earlier reports

  1. Sep 9, 2026, 11:52 a.m. ET

    Former CBI DNA Analyst Missy Woods Sentenced to Prison for Manipulating DNA Evidence

    Yvonne "Missy" Woods, a former Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) DNA analyst, was sentenced to prison on September 8, 2026, after pleading guilty to charges including cybercrime, first-degree perjury, forgery, and attempting to influence a public servant, according to reports from the Durango Herald, the New York Post, and the Gazette.

    Authorities accused Woods of manipulating DNA data, with reports differing on specifics. The New York Post reported that authorities accused her of altering data to conceal tampering, deleting data that showed she failed to troubleshoot issues within the testing process, and not thoroughly documenting tests performed in case records. The Gazette reported that the government alleged she committed these offenses in connection with her handling of DNA evidence, while the Durango Herald reported similar allegations of data manipulation.

    Sentencing reports conflict on the exact terms. The Gazette reported a 10-year term on the most serious felony charge, cybercrime, with concurrent sentences of six years on two counts and three years on the third. The Durango Herald reported a 10-year prison sentence. The Gazette noted that the top count of cybercrime, a class two felony, could have carried a prison term of 8 to 16 years.

  2. Sep 9, 2026, 11:22 a.m. ET

    Former CBI DNA Analyst Missy Woods Sentenced to 10 Years in DNA Evidence Scandal

    Yvonne "Missy" Woods, a former Colorado Bureau of Investigation DNA analyst, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on September 8, 2026, according to reports from the Durango Herald and the Gazette. The sentence was imposed after Woods was convicted of charges including cybercrime, first-degree perjury, forgery, and attempting to influence a public servant, as reported by the Gazette and the New York Post.

    The Gazette reported that the 10-year term was for the most serious charge, cybercrime, a class two felony that could have carried 8 to 16 years. Concurrent sentences of six years on two counts and three years on a third were also imposed, according to the Gazette. The Durango Herald reported the sentence as 10 years in prison without specifying the breakdown.

    Authorities accused Woods of manipulating DNA data, including altering data to conceal tampering, deleting data that showed she failed to troubleshoot issues, and not thoroughly documenting tests, according to the New York Post and the Durango Herald. The cause of the misconduct has not been determined, and the investigation remains open.

  3. Sep 8, 2026, 3:47 p.m. ETFirst report

    Former CBI DNA Analyst Missy Woods Sentenced to 10 Years in DNA Evidence Scandal

    Yvonne "Missy" Woods, a former Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) DNA analyst, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Sept. 8, 2026, according to the Gazette. The sentence was imposed on the most serious charge, cybercrime, a class two felony that could have carried 8 to 16 years. Concurrent sentences of six years on two counts and three years on a third were also imposed, the Gazette reported.

    Woods was convicted of cybercrime, first-degree perjury, forgery, and attempt to influence a public servant, all in connection with her handling of DNA evidence, the Gazette reported. The government alleged these offenses were committed during her work as a CBI analyst.

    The investigation was conducted by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. The Gazette's report did not specify the exact dates of the alleged conduct or the details of the evidence handling.

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Sources

Revision history

  1. Version 29 Sept 2026, 22:48current

    Clarified sentencing details and attributed conflicting reports; added charge details and allegations from multiple sources.

  2. Version 19 Sept 2026, 15:22current

    First published.

  3. Version 18 Sept 2026, 19:47current

    First published.

  4. Version 19 Sept 2026, 15:52current

    First published.

  5. Version 18 Sept 2026, 19:52

    First published.

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