- 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.
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