A Utah girl admitted to conspiring to kill her husband with the assistance of her mom and brother, making the deadly taking pictures appear to be an act of self-defense.
Kathryn Restelli, 37, pleaded responsible to a lowered depend of homicide and conspiracy to commit homicide for the demise of Matthew Restelli, 34, her estranged husband who was shot useless at her household’s residence in American Fork final July, native KSL reported.
The mom of two advised the court docket that she lured her husband to her mom’s house on July 12, 2024, with the promise of reconciling their relationship, telling him he was free to stroll into the house unannounced.
Restelli and her household had set issues up in such a manner that they’d accuse Matthew of breaking into their home, permitting Kevin Ellis, her brother, to shoot him and make a declare of self-defense, based on the plea assertion.
Officers who arrived on the scene testified that they discovered Matthew with a knife in his hand, however its placement appeared uncommon and raised doubts concerning the household’s self-defense declare.
Police mentioned Matthew was gripping the knife within the unsuitable course and that the weapon was in his proper hand — even though he’s left-handed and {that a} bullet wound was centered on the wrist holding the blade.
Restelli’s mom, Tracey Grist, referred to as 911 after the taking pictures, however the name from inside the home got here minutes after a neighbor had already notified police, setting off extra alarm bells.
Diane Restelli, Matthew’s mom, mentioned her son was involved after his spouse took the children and household truck to stick with her household in Utah.
Matthew had agreed to drive from his California residence to American Fork to choose up his household as a result of Restelli advised him she couldn’t lease a car to return again, Diane advised the court docket.
Regardless of promising Matthew that the household would drive again collectively, police mentioned Restelli had not packed something for the supposed journey.
Restelli had additionally put a monitoring system in Matthew’s truck to observe his arrival and stayed in contact to ensure he would get to the home so her household could be able to act, she admitted.
Grist allegedly ready the house for the homicide, which included overlaying the lounge sofa to stop it from getting blood stains.
Together with pleading responsible to lowered depend of homicide and conspiracy to commit homicide, Restelli was additionally hit with a Felony discharge of a firearm cost.
She is ready to return to court docket on Sept. 9 for her sentencing, the place she faces a most of life in jail.
Ellis and Grist have each been charged with homicide, conspiracy to commit homicide, obstruction of justice, and two counts of home violence within the presence of a kid.
Ellis, whose trial is anticipated to start out on Jan. 20, has additionally been charged with possession of a gun as a restricted particular person and drug possession.
Grist additionally has a jury trial scheduled to start out on Jan. 12.
