Judge: Texts, search history show evidence of conspiracy to kill

Kevin Ellis is dealing with numerous charges, consisting of murder and belongings of an illegal drug, for shooting Matthew Restelli 7 times at a home in American Fork, Utah, on July 12, 2024. Ellis has actually declared he acted in self-defense to secure himself, his sis and his mom, all of whom remained in your house at the time of the shooting.

At the time he was eliminated, Restelli was wed to Ellis ‘sibling, Kathryn Restelli, and the couple resided in California. Proof presented at a Jan. 14 initial hearing exposed that Kathryn had actually gotten away to Utah to stick with her mom, Tracey Grist, meaning to get a divorce. Grist and Kathryn have actually been charged with murder and conspiracy to dedicate murder in the event.

Kathryn Wants a Divorce

District attorneys state that while Kathryn explained to her household that she wished to be rid of her marital relationship, her messages with her hubby informed a various story. Texts check out into the court record consisted of both stating “I enjoy you” and making prepare for Matthew to come to Utah to drive Kathryn back to California.

Private investigators discovered an audio recording on Grist’s phone of Kathryn talking to a divorce lawyer, asking how she might lawfully decline to take her kids back to California and leave their dad. She preserved she was suffering spoken abuse, however stated Matthew had never ever physically injure her or the kids.

Not able to get the responses she desired from a lawyer, district attorneys state Kathryn tempted Matthew to her mom’s home, stating she would go back to California with him, however never ever had any objective of going. In the texts, Kathryn clearly welcomes Matthew to her household’s home and not just offers him eviction code for the neighborhood however likewise keeps in mind that the household’s door will be left opened.

Digital Evidence

American Fork Detective Joseph Nordin set out enormous quantities of digital proof that detectives had actually gathered from Ellis, Grist, and Kathryn’s phones. Texts in between the 3 exposed conversations about Kathryn’s desire to leave her marital relationship and points out of her going on a date with somebody else.

Kathryn’s digital search history revealed that in the days before Matthew’s murder, she browsed “smitten,” “How do you inform somebody you’re speaking to that you began dating and it’s ending up being something,” “safe words,” and simply 40 minutes before her hubby was eliminated, “Lover as a family pet name.” In the days after Matthew’s death, she browsed “how to state I’m on my duration to a guy,” and “5 methods to eliminate hickeys.”

Grist’s search history concentrated on another household involved in a murder plot. Starting on June 5, Grist looked for “Katherine Magbanua,” a crucial gamer in the murder of FSU teacher Dan Markel. Because case, Markel’s previous brother-in-law, Charlie Adelson, was founded guilty of outlining his murder-for-hire, and Adelson’s mom, Donna, is set up to stand trial on the exact same charges in June. Grist looked for an episode of Dateline concentrating on the Adelson household, in addition to “Where was Donna Adelson jailed?” Donna was detained while boarding a flight with a one-way ticket to Vietnam in Nov. 2023.

Grist likewise browsed inquiries about taking kids over state lines, getting U.S. passports for kids, and on July 12, the date of Matthew’s murder, for the “it’s occurring meme.”

The Knife

When cops got to the scene of the shooting, Ellis informed them that he had actually acted in self-defense when he shot Matthew. Officers kept in mind a knife remained in Matthew’s hand.

The knife discovered in Matthew Restelli’s hand is seen on a computer system screen at a hearing on Jan. 14, 2025. (Court Television)

Private investigators identified that the knife was in fact in Matthew’s non-dominant hand and quickly found out more about it. Nordin stated that while examining the little folding knife, he discovered it was just readily available from MyTacticalPromos. Matthew had no relationship with the business, however Grist had actually exchanged e-mails with them verifying an order for a secret box that would have included a knife matching the one discovered in Matthew’s hand.

Judge Roger Griffin kept in mind the comprehensive proof, in addition to inconsistencies in between Grist and Kathryn’s accounts of what occurred. “They were worried that he was going to be violent when he can be found in, and he was going to be drinking and all and things of that nature,” Griffin stated. “Yet the audio recordings that existed to the court today plainly revealed to the contrary, not someone who was mad or upset or on an objective to trigger issues, it was somebody that was simply anticipating, what I heard today, to seeing his partner and his kids and providing her a hug and a kiss and heading back home.”

Ellis is due back in court for another hearing on Jan. 29.