Convicted Killer Gets Second Trial After 'Missy' Woods Scandal

New Trial for Man Convicted in 1994 Murder Case

A man who was convicted of murdering a Boulder resident in 1994 has recently filed a Motion in Relief, seeking to have his conviction vacated. This request came after the scandal involving former Colorado Bureau of Investigation forensic scientist Yvonne “Missy” Woods, whose alleged misconduct has led to a reevaluation of several cases.

Michael Clark’s first-degree murder conviction was officially vacated by District Court Judge Nancy Woodruff Salomone. The court reinstated a $100,000 bond and scheduled a status conference in June to determine the next steps in the case.

The District Attorney’s Office of the 20th Judicial District has determined that Clark is eligible for a second trial. Following an investigation into the misconduct of the State’s DNA lab analyst, the office requested a re-test of critical evidence. Based on these results, along with claims of juror misconduct and ineffective assistance of counsel, the DA’s office concluded that the original conviction must be set aside.

“We are committed to doing what is right for justice. After learning about the misconduct of the DNA lab analyst, we asked for a re-test of key evidence. Considering those results and the serious allegations of juror misconduct and inadequate legal representation, we made the decision to vacate the conviction. It was the right choice. We then thoroughly examined all remaining evidence to determine the best course of action. Our request for trial dates reflects this process and our commitment to justice,” said District Attorney Michael Dougherty in a press release.

The Crime and Initial Conviction

On November 1, 1994, Boulder resident Marty Grisham was shot four times in the head and chest when he opened his door to someone knocking. After nearly two decades of investigation, Boulder police arrested Michael Clark on January 5, 2012, in connection with the shooting. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

However, the case took a new turn following the scandal surrounding Missy Woods, a former CBI forensic analyst. Her alleged manipulation of data from 1994 to 2023 has raised questions about the integrity of multiple cases, including Clark’s.

The Role of Missy Woods

Clark’s attorney emphasized that the prosecution in 2012 relied heavily on Missy Woods’ false testimony, which claimed that Clark’s DNA was found at the scene of Grisham’s murder. However, subsequent retesting using modern technology did not find Clark’s DNA, leading to the conclusion that the original conviction was based on faulty evidence.

“Missy Woods’ false testimony that Mr. Clark’s DNA was at the murder scene caused an innocent man to be convicted and wrongfully sentenced to life in prison,” stated Clark’s attorney in a statement.

Woods was recently charged with 102 felony counts, including forgery, cybercrime, perjury, and attempting to influence a public servant. An investigation into her work revealed that she tampered with data from 652 cases between 2008 and 2023. A review of her work from 1994 to 2008 is ongoing.

Re-evaluating the Evidence

The DA’s office plans to re-evaluate the evidence, locate key witnesses, and determine if the case can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a second trial. However, Clark’s defense argues that the process is unfair, as evidence that could demonstrate his innocence has been lost over time.

“The DA’s office is now prosecuting an innocent man for murder 30 years after the incident based on the same evidence they had in 1994 when they decided not to charge Mr. Clark. This is deeply unjust,” said Clark’s attorney.

Setting the Date for the Second Trial

After a thorough process, the trial was able to be set for as early as October 2025. The DA’s Office requested October 2025 for the trial, while the defense proposed December 2026. The court ultimately set the date for the second trial in May 2026.