Update: Affidavit reveals details behind Cottonwood Heights woman's arrest on murder charges; The man's body has not yet been recovered

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, Utah, October 3, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) – Charging documents filed in Jennifer Gledhill's arrest contain disturbing details about what led Cottonwood Heights police to charge her with the alleged murder of her husband, Matthew Johnson.

A confidential informant told officers that Gledhill confessed to the crime and said she shot her husband in his sleep, the affidavit said. Supporting evidence investigators found includes a large blood stain in the carpet under the bed, obscured by a newly purchased mattress above it on the blood-stained frame, and signs of a major cleanup effort, including recently bleached walls.

Johnson, 51, was reported missing from his workplace in the Utah National Guard on September 23.

“On or about September 28, 2024, Cottonwood Heights Police were in contact with a Confidential Informant (CI) who reported that she had spoken to Jennifer on the evening of September 22, 2024, which Jennifer Gledhill openly admitted at that time “To kill Johnson by shooting him in the head while he was sleeping,” Gledhill’s affidavit states.

“Johnson was shot while lying on the mattress in the master bedroom of their Cottonwood Heights home. Jennifer also told the CI that she removed Johnson's body and transferred his remains to a shallow grave at an undisclosed location. Jennifer Gledhill also told detectives that she removed and destroyed items from the house to cover up this crime.

“Multiple search warrants were obtained and served on electronic devices, leading investigators to believe that Johnson’s remains are in the same unknown location as described by the CI.”

Search warrants were obtained for the apartment and “we discovered a large bloody stain in the master bedroom carpet under the bed.” Blood was also found on the slats of the bed frame, confirming the police statement. There is also evidence that extensive clean-up operations were carried out following this crime, including bleaching walls and using carpet cleaning products.”

The mattress was new and phone records show a new mattress was ordered on September 24 and arrived two days later.

“As of September 21, 2024, Matthew has had no contact with anyone, including his children,” Gledhill’s arrest documents state. “Matthew’s phone went to voicemail. Matthew never returned to work and never left any evidence that could lead investigators to believe Matthew was still alive. Based on this conduct and the evidence collected during this investigation, it is believed that Matthew Johnson is deceased.”

Gledhill was arrested at 5.22pm on Wednesday for investigation into:

• Murder, a felony of the first degree
• Obstruction of justice, a felony/first degree felony, a second degree felony

If the case goes to trial, the public prosecutor's office will decide on the charges.

“I am requesting that 'No Bail' be issued because Jennifer has already tampered with evidence,” wrote the officer who filed her affidavit. “There is still significant evidence to be collected. I am confident that if Jennifer is released, she will tamper with, remove or destroy additional key evidence related to this investigation.” The statement also suggested Gledhill would pose a flight risk.

Gledhill was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail system and held without bail.