A wealthy Utah mother shot and killed her military husband while he slept in their million-dollar home, then dumped his body in a shallow grave, police say.
Jennifer Gledhill, 41, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Wednesday for murder and obstruction of justice after her husband Matthew Johnson, 51, disappeared late last month.
In an arrest affidavit seen by The Gephardt newspaper, Gledhill reportedly confessed to killing Johnson before disposing of her body.
A confidential informant is said to have told officers that Gledhill had confessed to the crime.
Detectives investigating the disappearance of Johnson, a member of the U.S. Army Special Operations Unit, found a large bloodstain in the family’s impressive $967,000 home in Cottonwood Heights.
Gledhill is also accused of purchasing a new mattress after getting rid of the mattress on which her husband died.
Jennifer Gledhill, 41, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Wednesday for murder and obstruction of justice after her husband disappeared.
Gledhill is said to have shot her husband Matthew Johnson, seen here, in the head while he slept before dumping his body in a shallow grave.
Authorities said Monday that the case was “suspicious” after his truck was found a few blocks from his home.
He was reported missing on September 23 after he failed to report to work with the Utah National Guard.
The affidavit says: ‘Johnson was shot while on the mattress inside the master bedroom of his Cottonwood Heights home.
‘Jennifer told the (informant) that she had removed Johnson’s body and moved his remains to a shallow grave at an undisclosed location.
‘Gledhill also told the (informant) that he had been removing items from the house and destroying them to cover up this crime.
“Several search warrants have been obtained and served on electronic devices which have led investigators to believe that Johnson’s remains are located at the same undisclosed location described by the (informant).”
Officers reported in the affidavit that there was also evidence of extensive cleaning, which included whitewashing the walls.
Police say phone records showed a new mattress was ordered on Sept. 24 and it arrived at her home two days later.
Officers reported in the affidavit that there was also evidence of significant cleaning, which included whitewashing of the walls.
Authorities said Monday that the case was “suspicious” after his SUV was found a few blocks from his million-dollar Cottonwood Heights home.
Johnson was reported missing on September 23 after he failed to report to work with the Utah National Guard.
Officers asked for a ‘no bond’ be issued, saying they believe Gledhill would tamper with or delete even more critical evidence, and was a flight risk.
According to court documents seen by KSL, Gledhill had filed for divorce from Johnson in July. He then filed a petition for a temporary protective order in August.
The outlet reported that Third District Commissioner Russell Minas said the protective order was not justified and that “no abuse had occurred.”
She submitted videos alleging the need for the order, but the ruling stated that the videos portrayed her as “equally confrontational.”
According to text messages also sent, Gledhill was “repeatedly berating, belittling and degrading” Johnson, according to the ruling.
Police confirmed to the outlet that they had also previously visited the couple’s home on civil matters. The couple shares two sons and a daughter, ages 11, 7 and 5.
The Cottonwood Heights Police Department said: ‘We want to express our deepest condolences to the families, especially the Johnson children. These unfortunate tragedies tear apart the fabric of our families.
“We extend our thanks to our partners at the District Attorney’s Office, the State Crime Laboratory and the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office for their efforts.”
