The arrest of the murder suspect's parents could be used as leverage for cooperation

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A former prosecutor said the arrest of a murder suspect's parents could be used as leverage in criminal proceedings.

Jennifer Gledhill has been charged with the murder of her husband Matthew Johnson.

“We hope to bring this matter to a final conclusion and bring her justice,” said Cottonwood Heights Police Sergeant Gary Young.

Gledhill's parents, Thomas Ray Gledhill and Rosalie Christianson Gledhill, were arrested and charged with obstruction of justice.

“They did not cooperate in parts of the investigation, and some of their statements were untrue,” Young said.

Young said ideally police would have wanted full cooperation from the start.

KUTV asked Nathan Evershed, a former prosecutor, how the parents' arrest in connection with the murder affects the case.

“In murder cases, the state tries to create what I call pressure points, and arresting the parents of a person suspected of murdering a person are incredible pressure points that the state can use to help them in the prosecution of a person “To help in case,” said Evershed.

Evershed explained that the arrest of Gledhill's parents creates critical pressure points for the prosecution, as possible serious charges against them could be used as leverage to encourage Gledhill to cooperate.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

“Possibly admitting guilt and then possibly releasing the body in a murder case like this or helping the relatives of this apparently deceased and apparently killed person become known,” Evershed said.

You can't use pressure points without evidence, but in this case, documents would prove a lot, Evershed said.

“It looks like they're saying that they have evidence that these individuals, their parents, were involved in a cover-up that involved cleaning a house, getting a mattress, turning off cell phones and this “Doing things to help her dispose of a body and to cover up this thing,” he said.

Evershed added that this may or may not work.

“There is no greater psychological pressure than helping and perhaps simply obeying a family member,” Evershed said.

___