LOCAL NEWS

New documents reveal efforts to find murdered Utah guardsman’s body

Oct 21, 2024, 10:26 PM | Updated: Oct 22, 2024, 5:50 pm

SALT LAKE CITY — New information in the murder of Utah National guardsman Matthew Johnson reveals a contradiction in the story of Johnson’s estranged wife, Jennifer Gledhill, who is charged with his killing.

Court documents for a search warrant of the phone belonging to a man Gledhill was having an affair with, also identified as an informant, show the man contacted police on Sept. 28, just six days after Gledhill allegedly went to his house and confessed to murdering Johnson.

According to the warrant, Cottonwood Heights police took a report of a domestic violence incident involving Gledhill and Johnson on Sept. 24. Gledhill is said to have told police the incident happened on Sept. 20 at the couple’s home after their children left to stay with Gledhill’s parents.

She reported they went into the residence and “began drinking whiskey and talking,” and the evening’s events turned into “consensual sexual intercourse.” Later that evening, Gledhill told police Johnson became upset and “was on top of her with a closed fist striking her several times.”

During the interview, police “observed several bruises” were still present on Gledhill’s body, including a bruise under her left eye. Gledhill requested they be “photographed as evidence.”

However, charging documents indicate Gledhill told the informant a vastly different story on Sept. 22, the day after she allegedly shot Johnson. According to the informant, Gledhill got the bruises from “moving Matthew (Johnson’s) body and cleaning the mess in the house.” The informant observed that Gledhill had bruises on her arms and legs.

Monday, a multiagency search of detectives and K-9 units continued for Johnson’s body.

“We have been searching every day,” Cottonwood Heights police Sergeant Gary Young said. “At times wading through water, the area is vast, between Farmington and Centerville, along the West Davis Corridor and Legacy Parkway where Gledhill’s cell phone traveled the day she allegedly buried Johnson’s body.”

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

FILE (Ray Boone, KSL TV)...

Jacob Freeman

Man accused of assault, firing gun in October road rage incident

A man is accused of following a car, rear-ending it then shooting a firearm, police said.

36 minutes ago

Alex Gabriel Barajas, 22, of St. George, was charged Tuesday in 5th District Court with three count...

Pat Reavy, KSL.com

Man accused of sneaking into student housing, sexually assaulting students

A former Utah Tech University student is accused of entering student housing on campus and sexually assaulting three female students in 45 minutes.

47 minutes ago

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Monday the locations of temples in Colora...

Mark Jones

Church announces location sites for Colorado, Montana temples

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Monday the sites for future temples in Colorado and Montana.

1 hour ago

Rescuers and bystanders carry Joe Weida after his ATV accident in Moab on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. ...

Shelby Lofton

‘It’s heartwarming and it’s hard;’ parents of man severely injured in ATV accident thank rescuers

The family of a 29-year-old man severely injured in an ATV accident on Saturday, Oct. 26 is grateful for the group of strangers who carried their son to safety.

2 hours ago

People who are homeless rest at a makeshift day camp in Pioneer Park in Salt Lake City on Monday, S...

Ashley Fredde, KSL.com

5 Salt Lake County sites being considered for new large homeless campus

Five potential locations are being considered for a new large homeless campus with 1,200 emergency shelter beds.

2 hours ago

Hazmat units responded to the Salt Lake City and County building on Nov. 5 after a white substance ...

Carlysle Price

White substance found in envelope at Salt Lake City polling location, deemed not harmful

A white substance was found inside a ballot Tuesday, causing an evacuation of the Salt Lake City and County Building.

2 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

abstract vector digital social network technology background...

Les Olson

Protecting yourself against social engineering attacks

Learn more about the common types of social engineering to protect your online or offline assets from an attack.

family having fun at home...

Lighting Design

Discover the impact of lighting on your mood

From color temperature to lighting saturation, we tackle how different lighting design setups can impact your day-to-day mood.

Laptops in a modern technology store. Department of computers in the electronics store. Choosing a ...

PC Laptops

How to choose the best laptop for college students

Finding the right laptop for college students can be hard, but with this guide we break down what to look for so you can find the best one.

young male technician is repairing a printer at office...

Les Olson

Unraveling the dilemma between leasing and buying office technology

Carefully weigh these pros and cons to make an informed decision that best suits your business growth and day-to-day operation. 

A kitchen in a modern farmhouse....

Lighting Design

A room-by-room lighting guide for your home

Bookmark this room-by-room lighting guide whenever you decide to upgrade your lighting or style a new home.

Photo courtesy of Artists of Ballet West...

Ballet West

The rising demand for ballet tickets: why they’re harder to get

Ballet West’s box office is experiencing demand they’ve never seen before, leaving many interested patrons unable to secure tickets they want.

New documents reveal efforts to find murdered Utah guardsman’s body