Utah prosecutors recently revealed that DNA evidence no longer links Douglas Stewart Carter, 71, to the murder of Eva Olesen, for which he was convicted in 1985 and sentenced to death. Carter, who has spent nearly 40 years in custody, was found guilty based on a signed confession and the testimony of two witnesses who claimed he had boasted about killing Olesen. However, new DNA analysis shows that Carter is not a match for blood found on a doorknob or material on the handle of a knife used in the stabbing. The state has withdrawn its notice to seek the death penalty and is reconsidering whether to proceed with the case. The case has been under scrutiny for years, particularly after the Utah Supreme Court ordered a new trial in 2023 due to misconduct by investigators. Carter’s attorney, Neal Hamilton, has argued that the case is built on tainted evidence and has urged prosecutors to dismiss the charges. He is seeking a bond hearing, expecting his client to be released ahead of an eight-week trial scheduled for next July. “They know they don’t have a case,” Hamilton said, emphasizing the need to abandon a prosecution he calls unjust. Prosecutor Jeffrey Gray acknowledged the new DNA findings but noted that they do not definitively prove Carter’s innocence. The murder weapon—a handgun—was never recovered, and Carter had confessed to the crime. However, his defense claims the confession was coerced. Additionally, two witnesses—unauthorized immigrants—testified that they were pressured by police and prosecutors to falsely accuse Carter, with threats of deportation if they did not comply. These witnesses later recanted their statements. Carter’s legal team has also pointed to potential evidence pointing to other suspects, including Olesen’s husband, Orla Olesen, who died in 2009. According to court documents, investigators may have suppressed evidence that could have led to charges against Orla. A Provo police lieutenant reportedly advised prosecutors not to proceed with charges against him, allowing the investigation to continue. Orla had told police he discovered his wife’s body in their home, bound and partially undressed. The case remains complex, with new evidence raising questions about the fairness of the original trial and the validity of the charges against Carter.