Yvonne “Missy” Woods, a forensic scientist with the Colorado Bureau of Investigations, testifies in a Boulder courtroom on July 23, 2009, during the trial of Kevin Elmarr, who was accused of killing his ex-wife, Carol Murphy, in 1987. Elmarr was convicted in the 2009 trial, but that verdict was later overturned because jurors had not been allowed to hear evidence of alternate suspects. He was convicted again following a second trial in 2015.
“The review did not find that Woods falsified DNA matches or otherwise fabricated DNA profiles,” CBI officials said. “She instead deviated from standard testing protocols and cut corners, calling into question the reliability of the testing she conducted.” So far, the CBI has found problems in 652 of Woods’ cases between 2008 and 2023, the news release said. Woods’ work between 1994 and 2008 is also being reviewed. The agency found Woods violated both CBI’s code of conduct and its laboratory policies for data retention and quality control.