Colorado DNA scandal threatens to overturn hundreds of criminal cases

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

Colorado DNA scandal threatens to overturn hundreds of criminal cases

8 March 2024

By Max Matza
BBC News

Hundreds of criminal convictions may now be re-examined after investigators in Colorado found that one of their DNA analysts manipulated testing samples.

Yvonne "Missy" Woods is accused of manipulating data during her 29-year career for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) crime lab.

On Friday, the CBI said they had found 652 cases affected by her recent work. Some 3,000 samples require re-testing.

No charges have been filed against Ms Woods, who has retired from the CBI.

Officials are now examining all of her work, dating back to 1994. The CBI has set aside $7.5m (£5.8m) to conduct new tests, re-try cases and potentially reimburse inmates for wrongful convictions.

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Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68518466

[3Hotdogs]

1. There was a similar case in Massachusetts of a DNA analyst fucking up the tests.

I remember a documentary about it a few years ago.

[coprolite]

2. This will evolve into a messy SNAFU

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. Another link:

Former CBI scientist accused of manipulating data in 652 cases, internal investigation finds

CBI released its findings from the internal affairs investigation on Friday morning. A criminal investigation is ongoing.

By: Stephanie Butzer
Posted at 11:51 AM, Mar 08, 2024 and last updated 12:23 AM, Mar 09, 2024

LAKEWOOD, Colo. — A former forensic scientist with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) altered and deleted data in DNA testing in hundreds of cases, according to an internal affairs investigation.

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