Kathryn Restelli of American Fork, Utah, Wednesday pled guilty to a reduced count of murder and conspiracy to murder Matthew Restelli, 42, on July 12, 2024

Kathryn, 37, sobbed in court as she confessed to luring her estranged husband to his death in a chilling plot with her mom and brother

She admitted to conspiring with her brother Kevin Ellis, 34, and her mother Tracey Grist, 60, to entice Matthew into the home in order later claim that they were defending themselves from his intrusion

Kathryn who left her husband in California amidst their marital crises now invited him to her family home near Salt Lake City on the pretext that she was considering a reconciliation

She told Mathew he was welcome to enter the home unannounced, that the door had been left unlocked for him

Instead Restelli was shot dead by Kevin Ellis within moments of entering the home under Utah’s Stand Your Ground laws

As per her arrengement Kathryn Restelli now faces a maximum sentence of life in prison at sentencing on September 9, to serve a minimum of six years in prison

Ellis and Grist have been charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, obstruction of justice, and two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, each

Mother and son will go on trial in Jan. 2026

Kathryn Restelli, on Wednesday pled guilty to a reduced count of murder and conspiracy to murder her husband Matthew Restelli. She sobbed, [photo], as she confessed to luring to the victim to his death last summer, in a chilling plot she cooked up with her mom and brother

A Salt Lake City woman sobbed in court as she confessed to luring her estranged husband to his death in a chilling plot cooked up with the assistance of her mother and brother, last year summer.
Responding to a distress a call at a Salt lake home on July 12, 2024, police found Mathew Restelli, 42, with multiple gunshot wounds, a knife clutched in his lifeless hand, inside the home of his mother-in-law.
His wife Kathryn Restelli, 37, on Wednesday pled guilty to a reduced count of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and felony discharge of a firearm, as part of a plea deal in Provo’s 4th District Court.
Kathryn the court heard invited her husband of seven and a half years, with whom she shared two children, to her family home in American Fork, Utah, on the pretext that she was considering reconciliation with him.
She told Mathew whom she left in California as their marriage hit a rocky patch, that he was welcome to enter the home unannounced, that the door had been left unlocked for him.

Victim: When salt lake police found Matthew Rastelli [photo], dead on July 12, 2024, the southpaw held a knife in right hand with ‘the blade was facing inwards towards himself, instead of pointing outwards towards a threat’. Furthermore he still had a was grip on the knife despite a bullet hitting that wrist

On July 12, Restelli drove from his home in California to the home in American Fork, Utah, where his wife was staying with her mother.
Within minutes of entering the home, Mathew Restelli was shot dead by Kathryn’s brother, Kevin Ellis, under Utah’s Stand Your Ground laws. The law allows occupants to use deadly force to defend themselves or others if they believe they face serious harm or potentially death.
Restelli showed up to the home uninvited and unannounced at the time of the shooting, Ellis told police.
On her own admission, Kathryn Restelli, her brother Kevin Ellis, 34, and her mother Tracey Grist, 60, had conspired to entice her husband into the home in order later claim that they were defending themselves from his intrusion.
After the shooting Tracy Grist called 911, but police were already on their way to the family’s home following a distress call from a neighbor.

Kathryn Restelli, [photo], in a Utah court pled guilty to a reduced count of murder and conspiracy to murder her ex Matthew Restelli, on July 12, 2024 

Kathryn Restelli’s brother Kevin Ellis, [left], shot his brother-in-law. Allegedly the murder was set up as self-defense. He has been charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, obstruction of justice, and domestic violence in the presence of a child

Police were immediately suspicious about the family’s version of events when they arrived, led by the fact that Matthew was still gripping a knife on the floor.
Officers observed that the knife was in the dead man’s right hand despite being left-handed, it was facing the wrong direction – pointing in his direction rather than outwards toward a threat. Significantly that wrist was hit by a bullet, making it very unlikely he would have retained possession of the weapon if he were holding it at the time he was shot.
The screen door of the home had also been removed and toys had been cleared from the front of the home to allow Matthew easier access.
The court heard Grist had gone to the trouble of covering the couch in the living room to ensure it would not be ruined by blood spatter. 

Kathryn and Mathew Restelli, formerly married, [wedding photo], were estranged at the time of the murder. She set him up by pretending she was open to reconciliation, that he was welcome to enter the home unannounced and that the door had been left unlocked for him 

Kathryn also admitted in court that she put a tracking device on Matthew’s truck in order to monitor his drive to her family home.
Kathryn Restelli admitted that she put a tracking device in her husband’s truck to monitor his drive to American Fork. She discussed a plan with her mother to stay in touch with him as he drove, ‘to reassure him that all was well and to keep him calm.’
As per her plea arrengement, she now faces a maximum sentence of life in prison when she is sentenced on September 9. The minimum term is at least six years behind bars. Prosecutors also agreed not to file perjury charges against Restelli for statements she made at Ellis’ bail hearing.
This plea and her potential testimony could impact cases filed against her mother and brother.
Ellis and Grist are still awaiting trial, each charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, obstruction of justice, and two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child.
Scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday, Ellis additionally is charged with possession of a gun as a restricted person, and drug possession.
His mother Tracy Grist is scheduled for a hearing on August 20. Mother and son both are scheduled for a jury trial in January 2026.