Wife of missing National Guardsman allegedly covered up his murder

Court documents reveal police say they believe the wife of a Utah National Guardsman killed him and tried to cover up his death.

Matthew Johnson, 51, was reported missing Sept. 23 after failing to show up for work at his Utah National Guard base. Police asked for the public’s help and said her disappearance appeared suspicious. His truck was found a few blocks from his home in Cottonwood Heights, Utah.

Police determined he was last seen on September 20, and witnesses told investigators that Johnson and his wife argued between September 20 and 21. Cottonwood Heights police also said officers had previously been called to the family’s home, and they knew the couple was planning to divorce. They have three children together.

Police announced Wednesday they arrested Jennifer Gledhill, 41, on charges of murder and obstruction of justice.

According to court documents, on September 24, Jennifer went to the Cottonwood Heights Police Department to report an incident that occurred around September 20 or 21 between her and her ex-husband. Details of the incident are unclear, but Scripps News Salt Lake City has requested more information.

It was on September 28 that police made contact with a confidential informant who said he spoke with Gledhill on September 22. The informant claimed that Gledhill openly admitted to killing Johnson by shooting him in the head while he slept. Johnson allegedly slept on the mattress in the master bedroom of the home they shared in Cottonwood Heights.

Gledhill would also reveal to the informant that she had removed Johnson’s body and moved his remains to a shallow grave in an undisclosed location. She also said she removed items from the house and destroyed them to cover up the crime.

Investigators would obtain several search warrants and serve them on electronic devices, leading investigators to believe Johnson’s remains were in the same undisclosed location described by the informant. That location has not been disclosed, and police say Johnson’s body has still not been found.

During the search of their shared home, investigators discovered a large blood stain on the carpet in the master bedroom, under the bed. Blood was also found on the slats of the bed frame, confirming what the informant told police. Police also say evidence found at the scene confirms that extensive cleaning took place after the murder, including whitewashing walls and using carpet cleaning products.

The mattress located in the room turned out to be new. Phone records from Gledhill investigators indicate she ordered a new mattress on September 24 and it arrived on September 26.

Cottonwood Heights police said that since September 21, Johnson had no contact with anyone, including his children, and his phone simply went to voicemail. Johnson also never returned to work and left no evidence for investigators to believe he was still alive. Because of these factors, investigators were comfortable saying he was deceased.

Police have asked the court to deny Gledhill bail because, based on the charges she currently faces, she could spend the rest of her life in prison. They add that Gledhill told the criminal informant she would kill herself before going to prison. The court agreed to deny his bail on October 2.

“We wish to express our deepest condolences to the families, especially the Johnson children. These unfortunate tragedies are tearing at the fabric of our families,” the Cottonwood Heights Police Department said in the release. “We express our gratitude to our partners at the DA’s Office, the State Crime Lab and the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office for their efforts.”

This story was originally published by Michael Martin and Spencer Burt on Scripps News Salt Lake City.