A Utah woman has pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges in connection with the killing of her estranged husband, admitting in court that she lured him to her mother’s home where her brother fatally shot him in what prosecutors say was a calculated family conspiracy.

Kathryn Restelli, 37, pleaded guilty on July 16 to second-degree felony charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, as well as a first-degree felony for discharging a firearm. Her sentencing is scheduled for September 9, and she now faces a possible maximum sentence of life in prison.

The plea comes nearly one year after the July 2024 killing of Matthew Restelli, who had been living apart from Kathryn for several months. According to police and court testimony, Kathryn invited Matthew to her mother’s house in American Fork, Utah, under the guise of working on their troubled marriage. She told him the front door would be open and urged him to come inside.

Waiting inside, according to investigators, was Kathryn’s brother Kevin Ellis. When Matthew entered the home, Ellis allegedly ambushed him and shot him multiple times. Kathryn’s mother, Tracey Marie Grist, called 911 shortly after, and police arrived to find Matthew holding a knife in a way that raised immediate suspicion.

According to authorities, the family had tried to stage the killing as self-defense. Ellis reportedly told police that Matthew had entered the home with a knife and posed an immediate threat. But investigators quickly grew skeptical. One officer testified that the knife had been placed in Matthew’s right hand — even though Matthew was left-handed — and an autopsy revealed a bullet wound to his right wrist, casting doubt on the claim that he had been wielding a weapon at the time of the shooting.

Further investigation revealed digital evidence that couldn’t be ignored. While checking Kathryn’s internet search history, authorities discovered not only that she had been planning the attack for some time, but that she had expressed a desire to “get rid” of her husband. This discovery, couple with physical evidence and testimony made it clear that this was a deliberate plot.

Kathryn Restelli was charged under a Utah statute that allows a person to be prosecuted for murder if they knowingly and deliberately aid or orchestrate the crime, even if they don’t carry out the killing themselves. In court, she acknowledged the truth of the charges and the details in the plea agreement, responding “They are correct” when asked if the statements of fact were accurate.

The two other alleged co-conspirators — Kathryn’s brother and mother — are set to face their own jury trials in January 2026. Both are charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, obstruction of justice, and multiple counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child. If convicted, they could face life sentences of their own.

What’s notably absent from Kathryn Restelli’s plea deal is any requirement that she testify against her family. Unlike many deals in similar cases, her sentencing is scheduled well ahead of the upcoming trials of Ellis and Grist, and no public statements have been made suggesting she will take the stand. Legal experts say this unusual timing suggests the prosecution is relying heavily on the detailed factual admissions in Restelli’s signed plea agreement, rather than testimony.

During the hearing, the judge reminded Restelli that she is giving up her right to a jury trial and any possibility of challenging the charges after sentencing. The charges carry significant penalties: up to 15 years for each second-degree felony and five years to life for the first-degree charge. Because the terms are set to be served consecutively, Restelli could serve decades in prison.

Prosecutors are expected to make their sentencing recommendations in September, and the judge will have final discretion in determining how long Restelli will spend behind bars. Written statements from family members of the victim will play a part in the sentencing. Experts expect Matthew Restelli’s mother and brother to give statements rather than in-person testimony.