A mother-of-three in Utah has been accused of fatally shooting her husband while he slept in their bed and then attempting to cover up the crime by reporting him missing and purchasing a new mattress. Jennifer Gledhill, 41, from Cottonwood Heights, Utah, was taken into custody on Wednesday and investigated for the murder of her estranged husband, Matthew Johnson, 51. The incident occurred late on September 20 or early on September 21, where Gledhill allegedly shot Johnson in the head in the master bedroom of their home as he slept, as detailed in an affidavit obtained by The Associated Press.
Jennifer Gledhill and Matthew Johnson were going through a divorce at the time, with witnesses reporting that the couple had been heard arguing on the night of September 20. An informant later disclosed to the police that Gledhill had confessed to killing Johnson and disposing of his body in a shallow grave. She was said to have cleaned the crime scene with bleach and replaced the mattress to hide any evidence.
Following Johnson’s failure to report to work on September 23, Gledhill reported him missing to the Cottonwood Heights Police. The discovery of his red truck near their residence raised suspicions. After the informant’s revelation, a search at their home uncovered bloodstains under the bed and on the bed frame, along with signs of attempted cleaning on the walls. Johnson’s body has yet to be found.
Divorce court records revealed that Johnson and Gledhill were embroiled in a bitter custody battle over their three children aged 11, 7, and 5. Gledhill had previously applied for a restraining order against Johnson in August, but the request was denied in September due to insufficient evidence of abuse in the relationship. The court described their marriage as dysfunctional and suggested that divorce proceedings should have been initiated earlier.
Gledhill is currently detained without bond at Salt Lake County Adult Detention Center on charges of murder and obstruction of justice. The Cottonwood Heights Police Department expressed condolences to the families affected by the tragedy. The incident has left a lasting impact on the community, highlighting the devastating consequences of such actions within families.