For nearly three decades, Yvonne “Missy” Woods was Colorado’s star forensic scientist, relied on by police and prosecutors to test DNA evidence in the state’s most baffling crimes.
Her work was considered the gold standard by colleagues and helped put away infamous murderers, including the “Colorado Hammer Killer.”
Then, in November, Woods abruptly resigned. The same day, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation said it had discovered anomalies in her work during an internal review and was launching a criminal probe.
The unfolding scandal—potentially one of the largest in the history of forensic DNA testing, according to experts—is throwing Colorado’s criminal justice system into chaos. The state said it would need to review and retest approximately 3,000 DNA samples that Woods handled.
Public defenders estimate thousands of cases could be affected.Prosecutors are bracing for numerous legal challenges from people charged or convicted based on Woods’s findings.
State lawmakers recently allocated nearly $7.5 million for possible retrials and case reviews, along with the retesting.
At the center of the storm is a mystery: Was Woods just sloppy, or has she been purposefully cutting corners for decades to put people behind bars?
@ToucanDonPatriot2mos2MO
Unfortunately I have seen this before where I work. When you have a woman in a scientific role, there is a different set of standards in play since they are belong to a very small minority in the field. Performance standards are often overlooked merely so a government can say "see how progressive we are." No man would want to be the one overseeing the female and raise an alarm out of fear of being called out as "sexist."
@B1cameralJakeMountain2mos2MO
It’s amusing that in every society and every species of mammal females usually outnumber males. Why are they treated as a minority in today’s America with all the law protecting them against discrimination?
@CynicalRedWhiteBlueForward2mos2MO
So, what you’re saying is that because of gov’t, company and general societal pressure, programs such as affirmative action, DEI and the like, society has become suspicious of those that may or may not have been promoted through these programs.
What we both described is a prejudice in the purest sense….and because we are human. This human condition is further evidenced by, as you say, not wanting to call out these people for fear of being branded some “-ist” or “denier”.
@BoaSidLibertarian2mos2MO
Can you even imagine being accused of a crime you DID NOT commit and having your DNA (supposedly) discovered at the scene?
What a nightmare.
@Vot3rVo1ceGeorgeNo Labels2mos2MO
This is not the first time this has happened!
In Connecticut renowned Forensic Scientist Dr. Henry Lee ( who worked on OJ Simpson, Lana Clarkson and JonBenét Ramsey amongst many others), was found to have fabricated evidence on a case where 2 men were wrongly convicted and spent decades in prison. The state paid $25 million to settle.
Individuals like these are in very powerful positions and their dishonesty and conduct destroys our justice system and the foundation to law and order.
There are thousands of innocent people that are locked in an over populated terrible system.
@Patriot-#1776Constitution2mos2MO
And one hundred times that amount of degenerate scumbags
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
How should the law treat expert witnesses who are found to have fabricated evidence after years of service?
@9KN3LBP2mos2MO
You should free them if they are not guilty and give them some start money
@9KN5R3DLibertarian2mos2MO
out government and the people in it are corrupt and untrustworthy therefore the shouldn't be able to control my whole entire life and everything in it
@9KN5Q6M2mos2MO
I think putting the right person in jail and not someone who was at the wrong place at the wrong time is one of the worst issues out there
@9KN5JCPPeace and Freedom2mos2MO
it is hard to see this and many criminal cases
@9KN7D8L2mos2MO
If people are able to use fake DNA then anyone could be innocent.
@9KN6K972mos2MO
It makes me angry that there are likely many people in jail due to improper evidence.
@9KNK83W2mos2MO
Fake dna is a major problem incriminating the wrong person
@9KN833DPeace and Freedom2mos2MO
DNA tests shouldn't be faked because what if the child got into the wrong hands
@TranquilGrassr00tPatriot2mos2MO
You know a project is going to have problems in the future when its analysts are "stars."
@9KNKNKJ2mos2MO
i don't think that the data was fake.
@9KN7Z7N2mos2MO
I think it’s crazy but not surprising considering people have been saying this for years.
@9KNGSQ7Peace and Freedom2mos2MO
Should’ve worked on the case more til they actually found something
@9KNCJJJ2mos2MO
It’s very shocking that a lot of people that were accused of doing what they were doing and had to spend time in prison, could be innocent the entire time.
@9KNHW6X2mos2MO
I feel like its importants for ones to know that theres alot of criminals out there and there sentecing may not be right do to the fake DNA data
@9KN4TZN2mos2MO
This is terrible because innocent people are getting put in jail.
@9KN9BQK2mos2MO
I think that they should be thouraghly investegated
@CougarArielDemocrat2mos2MO
This what happens when you are told to follow the science and no one is checking the science. Happened during covid and it happening in the above case.
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
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