Crime & Justice
Utah death-row prisoner released after 41 years as DNA analysis excludes him from killing
September 29, 2026 at 09:03 PM
Coverage
3 reports · 1 in Arabic, 2 in English · over 8 hours
AJAl Jazeera Arabic
الحمض النووي لا يطابقه.. أمريكي يغادر السجن بعد 41 عاما خلف القضبان
(opens the publisher’s site)
TGThe Guardian
Utah death-row prisoner released after new DNA analysis of 1985 killing
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
Man released on bail after 41 years on death row in Utah
(opens the publisher’s site)A Utah man who spent 41 years on death row has been released on bail after new DNA analysis excluded him from a 1985 killing.
- Douglas Stewart Carter, 71, walked out of Utah county jail on Monday after a judge ordered his release on bail, requiring a GPS monitor until a retrial.
- DNA analysis received on September 22 excluded Carter as a possible match to blood found on a doorknob and genetic material on a knife handle used in the killing.
- The Utah Supreme Court ordered a new trial last year citing investigator misconduct; two witnesses who testified against Carter later said police coerced them.
- Eva Olesen's daughter-in-law Theresa Olesen said her family had "serious concerns" about Carter's release and that the DNA results "doesn't mean he wasn't there."