Man Who Spent Decades on Death Row in Utah Ordered Released on Bail After No DNA Match
September 28, 2026 / 8:58 PM EDT / CBS/AP
TL;DR
- Douglas Stewart Carter, 71, was ordered released on bail after new DNA evidence excluded him as a match to blood on a doorknob and genetic material from a knife used in the 1985 murder of Eva Olesen.
- Carter has maintained his innocence, claiming his confession was coerced, and his defense argues that no physical evidence initially linked him to the crime scene.
- The Utah Supreme Court had previously ordered a new trial, citing investigator misconduct, and the state will no longer seek the death penalty.
- The victim's family expressed concerns about Carter's release, stating that the DNA results do not definitively prove his innocence.
- Carter will wear a GPS monitor and requires therapy to address the trauma of his extended incarceration.