A Utah woman has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and conspiracy charges in a disturbing plot to kill her estranged husband and make it appear to be self-defense. “Matthew Restelli is left-handed, and he’s holding [the knife] in his right hand,” police testified, describing the critical detail that unraveled the carefully planned scheme.
Kathryn Restelli, 37, entered her plea in relation to the July 12, 2024, shooting death of her husband, Matthew Restelli. Just weeks earlier, she had abruptly left him in California, taking their children and relocating to American Fork, Utah—about 30 miles south of Salt Lake City—to live with her mother, Tracy Grist, according to local ABC affiliate KTVX.
According to prosecutors, it was there that Kathryn, her mother, and her brother Kevin Ellis allegedly began conspiring to kill Matthew. The plan included luring him to Utah under the false promise of reconciliation. Kathryn convinced him to make the drive, using multiple calming phone calls during his trip to ensure he felt safe. Meanwhile, authorities said, the family planted an Apple AirTag in his truck to track him.
Grist allegedly prepped the home for the crime: removing a screen door for easier entry, covering the couch with a blanket to prevent blood stains, and relocating children’s toys out of view—all actions Kathryn later admitted in her statement of facts, as reported by Law and Crime.
On the day of the murder, Kathryn told Matthew to come through the unlocked front door to help her pack. Prosecutors say this was a setup to create the appearance that Matthew had entered the home uninvited, allowing her mother or brother to claim self-defense.
As planned, Kathryn went upstairs while her mother and Ellis waited. When Matthew entered, Ellis allegedly shot him multiple times. They then planted a knife in his hand, but investigators quickly noted that the knife was in his right hand, despite Matthew being left-handed. An autopsy also revealed a gunshot wound to his right wrist—the same hand holding the weapon.
Police also uncovered incriminating internet searches by Kathryn about mountain lions, gun laws, and past homicide cases. She wept while entering her plea and will be sentenced on September 9. Her mother and brother face multiple felony charges, including first-degree murder and obstruction of justice, with trial set for January.