AI Image
Judge orders Douglas Carter released after over 40 years on Utah's death row
kutv.com • • nation
Key Points:
- Douglas Carter, convicted in a 1985 capital murder case, will be released on bail after more than 40 years on Utah's death row, pending a potential retrial for the murder of Eva Olesen.
- The release follows prosecutors dropping the death penalty due to new DNA evidence showing Carter's DNA did not match blood found at the crime scene.
- Carter's attorneys allege evidence was suppressed and fabricated during the original investigation, highlighting claims of police and prosecutor misconduct, including coerced witness testimonies.
- The case has undergone multiple legal reviews, with Carter's conviction vacated in 2022 and upheld for retrial by the Utah Supreme Court in 2025 amid revelations of misconduct.
- Despite the state's agreement to Carter's release, the victim's family disputes the new DNA evidence's exoneration, while Carter's defense calls for dismissal of all charges.
