Utah death row inmate Douglas Carter to be freed on bail after 41 years over DNA mismatch
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Douglas Stewart Carter, sentenced to death in 1985 for the murder of Eva Olesen, will be released on bail after DNA evidence did not match samples from the crime scene. The Utah Supreme Court ordered a reinvestigation in 2025 citing investigator misconduct. Carter claims he was coerced into confessing to a murder he did not commit.
Key Facts
- Douglas Stewart Carter was sentenced to death in 1985 for the murder of Eva Olesen in Provo, Utah.
- Carter will be released on bail because his DNA does not match samples found at the crime scene.
- The Utah Supreme Court ordered a reinvestigation of the murder in 2025 due to investigator misconduct.
- Two witnesses who testified that Carter confessed to the murder later recanted their statements.
- Carter says he was coerced under threats into confessing to a murder he did not commit.
Conviction and Sentencing
Douglas Stewart Carter was convicted of murdering Eva Olesen, the aunt of Provo's police chief, and sentenced to death in 1985. The jury's verdict relied on Carter's confession and testimony from two witnesses who claimed he had spoken about killing Olesen. Both witnesses later recanted their statements. No physical evidence placed Carter at the crime scene.
Reinvestigation and Release
In 2025, the Utah Supreme Court ordered a reinvestigation of the murder, citing misconduct by investigators. DNA testing showed Carter's DNA did not match samples previously analyzed from the crime scene. Carter will be released on bail after 41 years in custody. Carter maintains he was forced under threats to confess to a murder he did not commit.
Family Response
Olesen's niece-in-law said the family hopes the investigation will continue. She stated that the DNA mismatch does not prove Carter was not at the crime scene.
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