New items collected as possible evidence in the suspected murder of a missing Utah Guardsman

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) – Days before the case’s scheduled preliminary hearing, several more items were turned over as potential evidence in the case of Jennifer Gledhill, the Utah woman accused of murdering her husband after he was first reported missing in September 2024 .

Gledhill, 41, was Arrested in early October for the alleged murder of her husband, missing Guardsman Matthew Johnson. As of Nov. 27, Johnson’s body still had not been found, but additional items in the case had been turned over for discovery, according to a document obtained by ABC4.com.

The document, dated November 27, 2024, shows that hundreds of photos and more than a dozen videos – among other files and items – were received by the organization Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office.

Items to be discovered in the case included “Jennifer’s phones,” “miscellaneous.” “Cell phone data,” photos and videos of multiple weapons and flight recorders.

In court proceedings, discovery is “the formal process of exchanging information between the parties about the witnesses and evidence they will present in court,” Das said American Bar Association.

Gledhill is charged with one count of first-degree murder, five counts of obstruction of justice, one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, one count of abuse or desecration of a corpse and one count of tampering with a witness expected.

Gledhill is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Monday, December 2, 2024.

background

Matthew Johnson was last seen on September 20, 2024according to the Cottonwood Heights Police Department.

Between September 20th and 21st, witnesses reported an argument between Johnson and Gledhill, according to police. Officials believe Johnson died of a gunshot wound, and the alleged crime was first reported on Sept. 28.

Jennifer Gledhill, Johnson’s wife, was taken into custody on October 2, 2024 Charges of murder and obstruction of justice.

Oct. 3, court documents say Gledhill “openly admitted” to a third party (a man with whom she was allegedly having an extramarital affair) that she shot Johnson in his sleep on September 21st. However, Gledhill did not confess to police until October 3rd.

October 15th was Gledhill charged with nine felonies — including first-degree murder and obstruction of justice — based on the testimony of the informant to whom she had previously allegedly confessed.

Based on initial information from this informant, after the incident, Gledhill allegedly placed Johnson’s body in a storage container and pushed him down the stairs and into the back of her minivan. Authorities then said Gledhill was accused of driving Johnson’s body north and burying it “in a shallow grave.”

On October 24th, Gledhill’s parents were there both arrested for obstruction of justice after they allegedly came to her home in late September to help clean up. On October 25, courts in Utah ruled on this comply with a no-contact order between Gledhill and her children.