A mother-of-two sobbed in court as she confessed to luring her estranged husband to his death in a chilling plot with her mom and brother.
Kathryn Restelli, 37, faced a Utah court to plead guilty to a reduced count of murder and conspiracy to murder Matthew Restelli, 34, on July 12, 2024.
She invited Matthew to her family home in Salt Lake City under the pretense she was considering getting back together with him.
Restelli told her estranged husband he was welcome to enter the home unannounced and that the door had been left unlocked for him.
But when he did as she told him to, her brother Kevin Ellis shot him dead within moments of entering the home 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, Ellis and her mother Tracey Grist had conspired to entice Matthew into the home in order later claim that they were defending themselves from his intrusion, KSL reported.
Grist called 911, but police were already on their way to the family home after a distress call from a neighbor.
Kathryn Restelli, 37, faced a Utah court to plead guilty to a reduced count of murder and conspiracy to murder Matthew Restelli, 34, on July 12, 2024
The mother-of-two has sobbed in court as she confessed to luring her estranged husband to his death in a chilling plot with her mom and brother
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.
But the knife was in his right hand despite being left-handed, it was facing the wrong direction and a bullet had hit his wrist, 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 covered the couch in the living room to ensure it would not be ruined by blood spatter.
Officials found a knife in Matthew’s right hand at the scene, but said ‘the blade was facing inwards towards Matthew instead of pointing outwards towards a threat’
Restelli told her estranged husband (pictured together on their wedding day) he was welcome to enter the home unannounced and that the door had been left unlocked for him
Restelli also admitted she put a tracking device on Matthew’s truck in order to monitor his drive to her family home.
The mother-of-two 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.
Her brother and mother are still awaiting trial, both charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, obstruction of justice, and two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child.
Restelli’s plea deal might have flow on effects for the cases against her brother and mother. Both are due to stand trial in January.
