COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, Utah, Oct. 3, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Charging documents filed in the arrest of Jennifer Gledhill share disturbing details about what led Cottonwood Heights police to book her for the alleged murder of husband Matthew Johnson.
A confidential informant told officers that Gledhill confessed to the crime, saying she shot her husband as he slept, the affidavit says. Supporting evidence found by detectives includes a large blood-stain in the carpet beneath the bed, obscured by a newly purchased mattress above on the blood-stained frame, and signs of a significant cleanup, including recently bleached walls.
Johnson, 51, was reported missing on Sept. 23 from his Utah National Guard workplace.
“On or around Sept. 28, 2024, Cottonwood Heights Police Department was in contact with a confidential informant (CI) who was reporting they had spoken with Jennifer on the evening of Sept. 22, 2024, at which time Jennifer Gledhill openly admitted to killing Johnson by shooting him in the head while he slept,” Gledhill’s affidavit says.
“Johnson was shot while on the mattress inside the master bedroom of their home in Cottonwood Heights. Jennifer also told the CI she had removed the body of Johnson and had relocated his remains to a shallow grave at an undisclosed location. Jennifer Gledhill also told the CI she had been removing items from the home 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 the remains of Johnson are at the same undisclosed location as described by the CI.”
Search warrants were obtained for the residence, and “we discovered a large blood-stained spot in the master bedroom carpet underneath the bed. Blood was also found on the bed frame slats, which supports the information police were told. Evidence also supports that significant clean up had taken place after this crime had occurred, including bleaching walls, and using carpet cleaning supplies.”
The mattress was new, and phone records show a new mattress was ordered on Sept. 24, and arrived two days later.
“Since Sept. 21, 2024 Matthew has had no contact with anyone, including his children,” Gledhill’s arrest documents say. “Matthew’s phone would go to voicemail. Matthew never returned to work, and never left any evidence that would lead investigators to believe Matthew was still alive. Based on this behavior and evidence collected through this investigation it is believed Matthew Johnson is deceased.”
Gledhill was arrested at 5:22 p.m. Wednesday for investigation of:
- Murder, a first-degree felony
- Obstruction of justice, capital/first degree felony conduct, a second-degree felony
If the case goes to trial, charges will be determined by the county attorney’s office.
“I am requesting that ‘No Bail’ be issued because Jennifer has already tampered with evidence,” the officer who filed her affidavit wrote. “There is still significant evidence that needs to be collected. It is my belief that if released, Jennifer will further tamper, remove, or destroy critical evidence pertaining to this investigation.” The statement also suggested Gledhill would be a flight risk.
Gledhill was booked into the Salt Lake County jail system and was ordered held without bail.
