Wife of Matthew Johnson shot him, moved his body, new documents allege
Oct 3, 2024, 2:30 PM | Updated: 4:46 pm
Cottonwood Heights police officers escort Jennifer Gledhill into a police car on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. Police say she shot and killed her husband as he slept. (Ed Collins, KSL TV)
(Ed Collins, KSL TV)
COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, Utah — KSL NewsRadio has obtained new arrest documents in the case of missing Utah National Guardsman Matthew Johnson and his wife — who is accused of murdering him.
According to the affidavit of probable cause Jennifer Gledhill, 41, initially contacted police to file a missing persons report for Matthew Johnson on Sept. 24. At that time, based on the timeline provided by Cottonwood Heights Police, her husband Matthew Johnson, 51, hadn’t been seen for four days.
Arrest documents say that Gledhill admitted to a confidential informant that she shot Johnson in the head as he slept in the master bedroom of their home. The documents also show that she moved his body to a shallow grave at an undisclosed location.
Cottonwood Heights Police Sgt. Gary Young told KSL NewsRadio Thursday they were still looking for Johnson’s remains.
“Detectives are diligently following all viable leads right now,” Young said. “We really want to present a good case … and we would like to bring this to closure.”
Items removed from Matthew Johnson home, new mattress purchased
Gledhill allegedly told the CI that “she had been removing items from the home and destroying them to cover up this crime,” according to police documents.
Investigators also said they found a new mattress in the bedroom when they searched it. Police said there was a large blood stain on the carpet underneath the bed and blood on the bedframe slats.
Phone records showed the new mattress was ordered on September 24. It arrived at the home two days later, according to police.
“Evidence also supports that significant clean up had taken place after this crime had occurred, including bleaching walls, and using carpet cleaning supplies,” the affidavit also reads.
Police arrested Gledhill and booked her into jail on suspicion of murder and obstruction of justice.
The affidavit requests she be held without bail, though it’s up to the prosecutor to make that request in court. If the request is made, a judge will decide whether or not bail will be granted.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office told KSL in a statement they are reviewing the case to decide whether or not they will file formal charges against Gledhill.
