DNA Evidence Exonerates Man Wrongfully on Death Row in Utah

WHO:

ABC News - Douglas Stewart Carter, a 71-year-old man who spent decades on death row.

NY Post - Douglas Stewart Carter, a 71-year-old man wrongfully convicted in a 1985 murder case.

WHAT:

ABC News - Utah prosecutors will not seek the death penalty in the upcoming trial against Carter.

NY Post - Utah prosecutors dropped the death penalty for Carter after new DNA evidence excluded him from the 1985 murder.

WHERE:

ABC News - Utah, where the trial and the wrongful conviction occurred.

NY Post - Utah, specifically referencing the location of the 1985 killing.

WHEN:

ABC News - The upcoming trial date has not been specified but is referenced as future.

WHY:

ABC News - The decision to drop the death penalty was influenced by new DNA evidence that does not match Carter.

HOW:

NY Post - New DNA evidence was analyzed, leading to the conclusion that Carter was not a match for the murder.

(UPDATED September 25, 2026 07:59 UTC)

In a significant development, Utah prosecutors have decided not to seek the death penalty for Douglas Stewart Carter, a 71-year-old man who spent decades on death row after being wrongfully convicted in a 1985 murder case. This decision comes after new DNA evidence excluded Carter as a match for the crime, prompting a reevaluation of his case. While the trial date has not yet been specified, the implications of this new evidence are profound for Carter's future.