Matthew Johnson serves in the military as a National Guardsman in the Special Ops Unit.

He takes a brief leave of absence as the children return to school. On the day Johnson is set to return to work, his wife, Jennifer Gledhill, reports him missing. She tells police he should have been home from base hours earlier, but his phone is going straight to voicemail. It turns out Johnson never showed up to work that morning. Jennifer says she last saw him driving away from their home.

The last time anyone other than Jennifer saw Johnson was three days before he was reported missing, at a neighborhood gas station. Neighbors recall seeing his truck and hearing him and Gledhill arguing late into the night.

The next day, Johnson’s communication, even with his children, stopped entirely. As police search for him, they find his truck ten days later, parked less than a mile from a million-dollar home.

The truck is locked and has gas in the tank. Nothing appears out of place inside, but none of Johnson’s belongings are found. Investigators begin processing the truck for evidence. Neighbors report last seeing the truck in his driveway the day he disappeared.

During the investigation, police discover that Johnson and Gledhill were in the midst of a contentious divorce after ten years of marriage. Gledhill initiated the split in July, with proceedings set to be finalized by the end of October.

She claims she is afraid of Johnson and says he had been violent toward her in the past. Cottonwood Heights police had visited the family’s home several times for domestic disputes.

A temporary restraining order was issued, but Gledhill needed to prove abuse for a permanent one. She provided video and text messages as evidence in her fight for the permanent order. One video showed Johnson calmly cleaning up broken glass from a family photo.

Court Commissioner Russell Minas denied the permanent order, ruling there was no evidence of abuse. He described the relationship as highly dysfunctional, with both parties equally confrontational, and noted that Gledhill did not seem afraid of Johnson. The commissioner suggested the restraining order request was a litigation tactic in the ongoing divorce.

Five days after Johnson was reported missing, Cottonwood Heights police received a call from one of Gledhill’s friends.

The friend claimed that Gledhill had called them before reporting Johnson missing, offering a very different story. According to the friend, Gledhill said she killed her husband and disposed of his body

Joining Nancy Grace today: 

• Sgt. Gary Young - Cottonwood Heights Police Department
• Ray Guidice -  Atlanta Defense Attorney
• Dr. Chloe Carmichael – Clinical Psychologist, Women’s Health Magazine Advisory Board;’ Author: ‘Nervous Energy: Harness The Power of Your Anxiety;’ X: @DrChloe
• Toby Wolson – Forensic Consultant Specializing in DNA, Serology, and Bloodstain Pattern Analysis; Author: "Handbook of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis." out December 13
• Jennifer Dzikowski - CrimeOnline Investigative Reporter 

 

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