# Douglas Stewart Carter legal proceedings > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/douglas-stewart-carter-legal-proceedings > Updated: 2026-09-28T23:11:21.000Z. Sources: 30. Developments: 2. Douglas Stewart Carter, who has spent decades on death row for a 1985 murder, has seen significant legal developments following new DNA analysis. The evidence excluded Carter as a match to blood found on a doorknob and material on a knife handle used in the killing of Eva Olesen. Initially, Utah prosecutors announced they were withdrawing their intent to seek the death penalty in Carter’s upcoming retrial. This decision followed a Utah Supreme Court order for a new trial due to investigator misconduct. Carter’s original conviction had relied on a confession he claims was coerced and testimony from witnesses who later recanted. Subsequently, a Utah judge ordered Carter’s release on bail, despite objections from the victim’s family. As conditions of his release, Carter must wear a GPS monitor and avoid contact with the Olesen family. His defense attorney noted that Carter will require therapy to address the trauma of his 41-year incarceration. In recent developments, Judge Derek Pullan noted that while a reasonable jury could still potentially convict Carter, the new DNA evidence significantly undermines the prosecution's case. The retrial is currently scheduled for 2027. ## Claims - 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. (corroborated by 18 sources) - Judge Derek Pullan ordered the release of Douglas Stewart Carter on bail. (corroborated by 18 sources) - The Utah state Supreme Court ordered a new trial for Carter last year due to investigator misconduct. (corroborated by 18 sources) - Utah County prosecutors withdrew their notice to seek the death penalty against Carter. (corroborated by 18 sources) - Douglas Stewart Carter has maintained his innocence and claimed his confession was coerced. (corroborated by 18 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-28: Douglas Stewart Carter released on bail after DNA evidence excludes him from 1985 murder A Utah judge ordered the release on bail of Douglas Stewart Carter, 71, after new DNA evidence excluded him from a 1985 murder case. 25 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/douglas-stewart-carter-ordered-released-on-bail-after-dna-evidence-excludes-him-from-1985-murder ### 2026-09-24: Utah prosecutors drop death penalty request for man on death row Utah prosecutors are dropping the death penalty request for Douglas Stewart Carter after DNA evidence failed to match him in a 1985 murder case, prompting calls for a full dismissal. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/utah-prosecutors-drop-death-penalty-request-for-man-on-death-row --- Cite as: Douglas Stewart Carter legal proceedings. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/douglas-stewart-carter-legal-proceedings