Parents of Utah mother accused of killing husband in his sleep now facing charges in lawsuit
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Parents of Utah mother accused of killing husband in his sleep now facing charges in lawsuit

The parents of Jennifer GledhillA Utah mother accused of fatally shooting her husband in his sleep after he learned of her extramarital affair has been arrested after authorities say they helped Gledhill cover up the killing.

Thomas Gledhill, 70, and Rosalie Gledhill, 67, were arrested during a traffic stop in Salt Lake County on Thursday, Oct. 24, Cottonwood Heights police said in a news release shared with PEOPLE. They were both jailed for multiple miscarriages of justice in connection with Matthew Johnson’s death in September, police said.

It is unclear whether they have entered pleas or retained lawyers to speak on their behalf.

The parents are accused of helping Jennifer clean up the home where authorities believe she shot Johnson on Sept. 21 and dispose of evidence related to the murder. Their arrests come just over a week after the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office announced that Jennifer had been charged with first-degree murder and other crimes related to her husband’s slaying.

Johnson, a member of the Utah National Guard, was reported missing by Jennifer on Sept. 28, prosecutors said said earlier in a statement. Jennifer was arrested in early October after an informant who claimed he was having an affair with her told police she allegedly confessed to fatally shooting Johnson in his sleep after he learned of the affair, according to prosecutors.

Jennifer Gledhill.

Third District Court of Utah


Jennifer also allegedly told the informant that she put her husband’s body in a storage container and placed it in their minivan before burying the body in a shallow grave, prosecutors said. When the informant asked her about the bruises on her body, Jennifer allegedly said she got them by cleaning the crime scene and moving the body.

According to two probable cause affidavits, one for each parent, witnesses reportedly told police that Thomas and Rosalie were seen cleaning at their daughter’s home over a five-hour period on Sept. 24, although Rosalie claimed to authorities that they were there for about a year. hour. Both parents refused to clean the home, according to the affidavit.

Thomas reportedly told investigators during questioning that he did not remember much of the day, the district attorney’s office said earlier. Investigators also claim cellphone records show Thomas was the only person Jennifer called on the day she is believed to have buried Johnson’s body, the affidavit claims.

After authorities searched Jennifer’s home, they reportedly found a bloodstained stain on the carpet under the bed in the bedroom and noted that the wall behind the bed was covered in bleach and that the mattress in the room was new, according to the release. Prosecutors said Gledhill’s mother allegedly told investigators she bought the mattress for Gledhill after she asked her to, the release states.

Prosecutors believe Johnson was killed on a mattress that had been thrown out and is still missing, along with the victim’s body, according to affidavits against the parents.

Tests show the blood stain on the carpet came from a “single male source,” according to the release, but prosecutors have said additional tests are still underway to confirm whether it’s a match to Johnson’s DNA.

Matthew Johnson.

Cottonwood Heights Police Department


Authorities also executed a search warrant at Gledhill’s parents’ home in early October and claimed they found a plastic bag containing a loaded handgun similar to what she allegedly showed the informant on Sept. 19, according to the release.

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Authorities claimed in affidavits that both parents have not cooperated with the investigation, nor provided any information leading to the location of Johnson’s body.

“We urge the public to refrain from jumping to conclusions as this investigation and prosecution is ongoing,” Cottonwood Heights police said in the news release.

According to ABC 4 and KUTVa judge has ordered Jennifer to have no contact with her three children. It’s unclear if she has entered a plea, and PEOPLE has not been able to identify an attorney who can speak on her behalf.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or go to thehotline.org. All calls are free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.