DNA Findings Lead to Bail Release for American After Nearly 41 Years in Prison

Douglas Carter, an American who spent nearly 41 years behind bars, has been released on bail in Utah after DNA testing excluded him as a contributor to samples collected at the scene of a murder.

The findings marked a major turn in the long-running case, allowing Carter to leave prison while awaiting a new trial.

His release is not an acquittal. The murder case remains unresolved, with the next trial still pending.

The DNA results have nevertheless changed Carter’s immediate circumstances after roughly four decades in custody, even as his legal future remains uncertain.