Kathryn Restelli admitted to luring her husband into an ambush, but a crucial forensic clue unraveled the family’s self-defense cover-up
A Utah woman has pleaded guilty to helping orchestrate the murder of her estranged husband — a plot that might have succeeded if not for one critical mistake that tipped off investigators.
Kathryn Restelli, 37, entered guilty pleas this week to multiple felony charges, including second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and discharging a firearm, in the July 2024 killing of her husband, Matthew Restelli, in American Fork, Utah.
Her brother Kevin Ellis and mother Tracey Marie Grist, both accused of taking part in the deadly plot, are scheduled to stand trial in January 2026.
A Deadly Trap
According to court records and testimony cited by KSL, ABC 4, and Fox 13, Restelli lured her estranged husband to her mother’s house under the guise of reconciliation. The couple had been separated for several months, but Kathryn told Matthew she wanted to talk and instructed him to come over, assuring him the front door would be unlocked.
When Matthew entered the home, he was ambushed and fatally shot multiple times by his brother-in-law, Kevin Ellis.
A Staged Scene — and a Fatal Flaw
Prosecutors say the family had planned to stage the murder as an act of self-defense. Grist allegedly called 911 shortly after the shooting, and when officers arrived, they found Matthew lying dead — a knife placed in his right hand.
But the story quickly unraveled.
Matthew was left-handed, and during his autopsy, a gunshot wound was discovered on his right wrist — the same hand gripping the knife. Investigators determined the weapon had likely been placed in his hand after the shooting to support Ellis’s self-defense claim.
“The placement of the knife, coupled with the wrist injury, didn’t add up,” a police officer testified, according to ABC 4.
A Premeditated Plot
Under Utah law, aiding or facilitating a murder — even without directly pulling the trigger — can carry the same criminal liability as committing the act itself. Authorities allege that Kathryn, Ellis, and Grist conspired in advance to lure Matthew to the home, ambush him, and then mislead police about the circumstances of his death.
Kathryn’s guilty plea may lead to reduced charges or sentencing considerations for her co-defendants, though both face first-degree murder, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and domestic violence charges.
Sentencing Ahead
Kathryn Restelli is scheduled to be sentenced on September 9. She faces a sentence ranging from six years to life in prison, depending on the judge’s ruling.
Meanwhile, Kevin Ellis and Tracey Grist are expected to stand trial in early 2026. Prosecutors say the case remains a chilling reminder of how quickly a domestic dispute can spiral into premeditated violence — and how one overlooked detail can bring an entire conspiracy crashing down.
