Death penalty dropped after DNA doesn’t match 71-year-old man on death row

• Utah prosecutors dropped their pursuit of the death penalty against 71-year-old Douglas Stewart Carter, who spent decades on death row for the 1985 murder of Eva Olesen.
• Recent DNA testing excluded Carter as a match for blood on a doorknob and material on the handle of the knife used in the killing.
• The state Supreme Court ordered a new trial for Carter last year after citing misconduct by investigators during the original proceedings.
• Defense attorneys are urging prosecutors to dismiss all charges, alleging Carter's confession was coerced and key witness testimonies were fabricated under police threat.
• Prosecutors are currently reexamining whether to proceed with the retrial set for July, though they noted the new DNA evidence does not automatically exonerate Carter.

IN FULL

DNA evidence doesn’t match man who spent decades on death row, Utah prosecutors say