A former Colorado Bureau of Investigation DNA scientist faced court this week over accusations of tampering with data, which could affect more than 500 criminal cases. Yvonne “Missy” Woods, once considered a “star analyst,” is now at the center of a scandal that has shaken the state’s justice system.

Authorities say Woods altered and deleted data to speed up her work, raising serious concerns about the reliability of her findings. Her actions impacted cases ranging from homicides to sexual assaults and robberies. In at least two murder cases, defendants received lighter sentences after prosecutors feared Woods’ involvement could lead to acquittals.

Despite no evidence of wrongful convictions so far, prosecutors are reviewing hundreds of cases tied to Woods’ work. The fallout has already led to significant changes, including hiring an independent lab to retest thousands of DNA samples—a process costing millions of dollars.

Woods appeared in court Thursday via video from a Denver-area jail, facing 52 counts of forgery, 48 counts of attempting to influence a public servant, and charges of perjury and cybercrime. The judge highlighted the broader implications of the case, stating, “This gets to the heart of whether or not science can be trusted, whether or not law enforcement can be trusted, and quite frankly whether the judicial system can be trusted.”

The investigation into Woods began in 2023 after an intern noticed missing data in a case she handled. A deeper probe revealed she had manipulated records, failed to address testing issues, and left gaps in documentation. Concerns about her work date back to 2014, and she was even temporarily removed from DNA cases in 2018.

Families affected by Woods’ alleged misconduct are outraged. Tamara Dean Harney, whose father’s 1985 murder case was impacted, attended the hearing. “She just didn’t consider what she was doing to all of us,” Harney said.

The state has taken steps to address the crisis, hiring a consulting firm to review its forensic program and allocating funds to reexamine affected cases. Meanwhile, Woods’ attorney declined to comment after the hearing, leaving questions about her next steps unanswered.

With over $11 million spent on the response so far, the case underscores the far-reaching consequences of compromised forensic integrity. As prosecutors and families seek justice, the state continues to grapple with the fallout from Woods’ alleged actions.