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Douglas Stewart Carter released on bail after DNA evidence excludes him from 1985 murder
Douglas Stewart Carter, a 71-year-old man who spent decades on death row, has been ordered released on bail by a Utah judge. The decision follows new DNA analysis that excludes Carter as a match to blood found on a doorknob and genetic material found on a knife handle used in the 1985 murder of Eva Olesen.
Carter was originally convicted based on a confession he claims was coerced and testimony from two witnesses who later recanted their statements. The Utah state Supreme Court ordered a new trial last year due to misconduct by investigators. While Judge Derek Pullan noted that the new DNA evidence significantly undermines the prosecution's case, he stated that a reasonable jury could still potentially find Carter responsible for the crime.
As a condition of his release, Carter must wear a GPS monitor and avoid all contact with the victim's family. Utah County prosecutors have withdrawn their notice to seek the death penalty, and a retrial is tentatively expected in 2027.
Entities
Derek Pullan · Douglas Stewart Carter · Eva Olesen · Neal Hamilton · Utah County · Utah County Prosecutor's Office
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 18 SOURCES] The Utah state Supreme Court ordered a new trial for Carter last year due to investigator misconduct. krmg.com · www.troyrecord.com · offthepress.com · www.haberaktuel.com · mymotherlode.com · +13 more
- [● 18 SOURCES] Utah County prosecutors withdrew their notice to seek the death penalty against Carter. krmg.com · www.troyrecord.com · offthepress.com · www.haberaktuel.com · mymotherlode.com · +13 more
- [● 18 SOURCES] Carter's release on bail is subject to wearing a GPS monitor and avoiding contact with the victim's family. krmg.com · offthepress.com · www.haberaktuel.com · mymotherlode.com · radioh.no · +13 more
- [● 18 SOURCES] Judge Derek Pullan ordered the release of Douglas Stewart Carter on bail. krmg.com · www.troyrecord.com · offthepress.com · www.haberaktuel.com · mymotherlode.com · +13 more
- [● 18 SOURCES] Douglas Stewart Carter has maintained his innocence and claimed his confession was coerced. krmg.com · www.troyrecord.com · offthepress.com · www.haberaktuel.com · mymotherlode.com · +13 more
- [● 18 SOURCES] DNA analysis excludes Douglas Stewart Carter as a match to blood on a doorknob and genetic material on a knife handle used in the 1985 killing. krmg.com · www.troyrecord.com · offthepress.com · www.haberaktuel.com · mymotherlode.com · +13 more