Search warrants in the case against Jennifer Gledhill unsealed: What to know

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — New documents in the case of Jennifer Gledhill — the Utah woman accused of killing her husband, Utah National Guardsman Matthew Johnson — have been unsealed. Gledhill, 41, was first arrested in October 2024 for the alleged murder of her husband, whose body has not yet been found.

On Monday, ABC4.com obtained court documents that were initially filed in October 2024, but had been sealed until April 2025 to prevent the investigation from being compromised by the leaking of information.

Several documents included similar paragraphs requesting they be sealed because “any information released at this time has the potential to inform possible suspect(s) as to the direction of the investigation.” The potential destruction of evidence was also cited as a reason for the documents to remain sealed.

Officials filed search warrants to examine Johnson’s vehicle, Gledhill’s Venmo account and the Venmo accounts of her parents, and several bank accounts. According to the search warrant for Johnson’s vehicle, police were seeking to obtain location data and information about the devices connected to the car.

Several warrants were issued to search the Venmo accounts of Gledhill and each of her parents, including deposits, withdrawals, and transfers. Gledhill’s mother reportedly admitted to purchasing a new mattress for her daughter via Amazon.

One of the search warrants detailed a transfer of $1,000 from Thomas Gledhill to Jennifer Gledhill two days before the last day Johnson was seen. One text message from Gledhill to her father said, “I need 13K by Friday,” according to documents.

Officials obtained search warrants for three accounts with USAA Bank associated with Jennifer Gledhill, as well as “all accounts pertaining to Thomas Gledhill” at Zions Bank, and Jennifer Gledhill’s account at Chase Bank.

Jennifer Gledhill’s trial has been set for December 2025.

Background

Gledhill’s husband, Matthew Johnson, was last seen on Sept. 20, 2024, according to the Cottonwood Heights Police Department.

Between Sept. 20 and Sept. 21, 2024, police said witnesses reported an argument between Johnson and Gledhill. Officials believe Johnson died of a gunshot wound, and the alleged crime was first reported on Sept. 28.

Gledhill was taken into custody on Oct. 2, 2024, on preliminary charges of murder and obstruction of justice.

On Oct. 3, court documents said Gledhill “openly admitted” to a third party (a man with whom she was allegedly having an extramarital affair) that she had shot Johnson while he slept on Sept. 21. However, Gledhill did not confess anything to police as of Oct. 3, 2024.

On Oct. 15, Gledhill was charged with nine felonies — including first-degree murder and obstruction of justice — based on the testimony of the informant she allegedly confessed to earlier.

Based on initial details from that informant, after the incident, Gledhill reportedly put Johnson’s body in a storage container and slid it down the stairs and into the back of their minivan. Authorities then said Gledhill is accused of driving Johnson’s body north and burying it “in a shallow grave.”

On Oct. 24, Gledhill’s parents were both arrested for obstruction of justice after they allegedly came over to her home to help clean up in late September. On Oct. 25, Utah courts ruled to uphold a No Contact Order between Gledhill and her children.

In November 2024, additional items were turned over as potential evidence in the case. Among the items included for discovery in the case were “Jennifer’s Phones,” “Misc. Cell Phone Data,” photos and videos of several guns, and black boxes.

Aubree Jennings contributed to this report.