Douglas Stewart Carter Released from Death Row After DNA Evidence Excludes Him from 1985 Murder

Douglas Stewart Carter, a 71-year-old man who spent decades on death row, was released on bail on September 29, 2026, after prosecutors stated that newly analyzed DNA evidence does not link him to the 1985 murder of Eva Olesen, the aunt of a police chief. A Utah judge ordered Carter's release despite objections from the victim's family. He is required to wear a GPS monitor while awaiting a new trial. The Utah Supreme Court had ordered the new trial last year, citing misconduct by investigators. Carter has consistently maintained his innocence, claiming that a signed confession was coerced. No physical evidence connected him to the crime scene, and his conviction was based on the confession and testimony from two witnesses who later recanted. A DNA analysis received on September 22 excluded Carter as a possible match to blood found on a doorknob and genetic material recovered from a knife used in the murder. Judge Derek Pullan noted that these results further weakened the case against Carter, although he stated that a reasonable jury could still conclude that Carter killed Olesen. Carter was convicted in 1986 and again in a retrial in 1992, with courts rejecting numerous appeals over the years. The case took a turn in 2011 when the original trial witnesses recanted their testimonies, claiming they were coerced by police. The Utah Supreme Court's decision to order a new trial was based on findings of intentional misconduct by law enforcement. Prosecutors have not indicated whether they will use the DNA evidence to pursue other suspects. Carter's defense attorneys have pointed to evidence suggesting other possible suspects, including the victim's husband. During the bond hearing, a family member expressed concerns about Carter's release, emphasizing their desire for justice for Eva Olesen.