Former lab analyst sentenced to 10 years in prison for manipulating DNA data

Former Colorado Bureau of Investigation analyst Missy Woods has been sentenced to ten years in prison for manipulating DNA data in criminal cases involving homicide, sexual assault, and robbery. According to prosecutors, Woods altered years of data, which raised doubts about the validity of hundreds of criminal cases. She pleaded guilty to perjury, attempting to influence a public servant, forgery, and committing a cybercrime in June.

The misconduct was discovered during an investigation that began in September 2023 after an intern at the bureau noticed missing information in a case Woods had handled in 2018. Woods initially claimed that she manipulated data to expedite case completion. As part of the plea agreement, multiple other charges against her were dropped.

The investigation revealed that problems with Woods' work were present in cases involving various crimes. At least one murder conviction was overturned due to her misconduct, and prosecutors had to review hundreds of cases. Woods resigned from her position in 2023 after a long career.

During her sentencing hearing in Golden, Colorado, Woods expressed deep regret for her failure to fulfill her responsibility with the evidence, stating that she knew her apology would not undo the harm she caused. The investigation into her actions began over a decade ago, with concerns first surfacing in 2014. In 2018, she was temporarily removed from DNA case work after being accused of data manipulation.

The consequences of Woods' misconduct may cost more than $11 million in Colorado.