Suvechha Sarkar
Matthew Clark Restelli, lovingly known as Matt, was a dutiful father of two and a responsible son. However, the beautiful life of the 42-year-old came to an abrupt end in July 2024 when he was brutally shot dead in American Fork, Utah. Officials initially received statements of self-defense, but details from the crime scene soon revealed a bigger plot. The episode titled ‘The Family Plot’ of NBC’s ‘Dateline’ examines the events leading up to the homicide and evidence that helped officials catch the killers. The episode also features interviews with his acquaintances and the law enforcement officials who helped solve the case.
Matt Restelli Passed Away From Multiple Gunshot Wounds in Utah
On May 4, 1982, Matthew Clark Restelli, affectionately known as Matt, arrived as a blessing in the lives of Diane and Thomas Paul Restelli Jr. He was born in Houston, Texas, and grew up in a loving household, which was always filled with the laughter and voices of him and his brothers, Paul and Mark Restelli. Matt had always possessed an adventurous spirit and an affinity for the natural world. It helped him become a skilled fisherman and mountain biker. From time to time, he loved spending time exploring the outdoors. Although little is known about Matt’s career, we do know that he worked as a handyman and struggled to find work in 2020 when opportunities in the field became scarce.
Reports state that Diane eventually bought Matt a 7-acre property in the desert. Over time, he crossed paths with Kathryn “Kate” Restelli, and their casual interactions turned into something more. Sometime around 2017, they finally tied the knot in the company of their loved ones. Over the next few years, they welcomed their children, Steel, Lucas, and Cheyenne, into the world. By 2024, the family was living in California, and Matt dedicated himself to his family. In June 2024, Kate went to her mother, Tracey Marie Grist’s, home in American Fork, Utah, with two of her children. On July 12, Matt drove from California to Tracey’s home to pick up his wife and children, arriving shortly after 10 pm.
Things took a tragic turn when Matt was brutally shot, following which Tracey called 911 to report the situation. When officials arrived at the scene, they found the 42-year-old lying dead with gunshot wounds and a knife in his right hand. However, they noted that the knife blade was facing toward him instead of away from him. Forensic experts observed that he was shot in the right wrist with which he was holding the knife. In the living room, authorities found eight bullet casings near the front door. The autopsy report revealed that he was shot multiple times, including twice in the back and once in the chest. His cause of death was determined to be multiple gunshot wounds.
Conflicting Accounts and a Digital Trail Revealed a Murder Conspiracy
When officials first arrived at Tracey’s home, she claimed that her son, Kevin Stanley Ellis, had shot Matt in self-defense. According to official reports, upon questioning Kevin, he confessed to shooting his brother-in-law, but claimed that he and his family were caught off guard when the 42-year-old arrived agitated. In his statements, he also claimed that he became scared for his life when Matt entered the house without permission. On the other hand, Tracey gave a conflicting statement to the detectives, saying she was aware that her son-in-law would arrive around 10 pm, per the records. Further reports suggest that Kate told the police that she was in the upstairs bedroom with the children when the shooting happened.
Upon further inspection of the scene, investigators found several red flags, including the wrong direction of the knife blade in Matt’s hand. They noted that although he was holding the knife in his right hand, he was actually left-handed. Court records state that officials then learned from Kate’s family that her relationship with Matt had become rocky and that she had even spoken to a divorce lawyer. When digital forensic experts examined her, Tracey, and Kevin’s phone records, they revealed that on January 13, 2024, she texted Tracey, writing, “We’ve been fighting so much! I want out!” to which her mother replied, “I’ll just drive nine hours and strangle him (Matt).” Court records suggest that a text message from Kate’s sister revealed that the sister was watching an AirTag update.
Detectives found another screenshot of a location in California on Kate’s phone. A search warrant was then executed on Matt’s car, revealing an AirTag inside a storage drawer. Reports state that they also discovered that Kate, Tracey, and Kevin shared access to the AirTag’s location. In July 2024, Kevin was arrested and charged with murder, two counts of domestic violence in the presence of children, obstruction of justice, drug possession, and being a restricted person in possession of a gun. By October, Kate and Tracey were also arrested and charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, obstruction of justice, and two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child. Tracey faced the additional charges of possession or use of a controlled substance and purchase, transfer, possession, or use of a firearm by a restricted person.
Kate Restelli, Tracey Grist, and Kevin Ellis Are Serving Their Sentences at Utah Prisons Today
On July 26, 2025, Kate Restelli reached a plea agreement with the prosecution. She pleaded guilty to a reduced count of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, and felony discharge of a firearm. As part of the agreement, the prosecution dismissed the remaining charges against her. Moreover, she admitted to helping lure Matt from California to Utah by leading him to believe he wanted to reconcile with her. In September 2025, Kate was sentenced to 1 to 15 years for murder and another concurrent 1 to 15 years in prison for conspiracy. She also received a 5-year term for the firearm offense, to be served consecutively. Kevin’s jury trial commenced in January 2026, during which the prosecution challenged his claim that he shot Matt in self-defense.
As a witness during the trial, Kate testified that Tracey didn’t immediately call 911 to give Kevin time to place a knife in Matt’s hand. In her testimony, she said that her mother and brother had gone out on the afternoon of July 12, 2024, to plan how to kill the 42-year-old. On the other hand, although the defense didn’t dispute that Kevin shot Matt, they claimed that he was deceived by his mother and acted in self-defense. On January 28, he was convicted on all other charges but acquitted of the conspiracy charge. In March, Kevin was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for murder and other consecutive sentences of 1 to 15 years for obstruction and 0-5 years each for the domestic violence charge.
The jury trial of Tracey began in April 2026, during which the prosecution claimed that she was the central figure in the conspiracy. They also presented digital evidence and Kate’s testimony before the court. However, the defense claimed that Tracey didn’t participate in the plan. On April 21, the jury found her guilty on all charges. In June, she received consecutive sentences of 15 years to life for murder, two terms of 1 to 15 years each for conspiracy and obstruction offenses, and 0-5 years for both domestic violence counts. Kevin is currently incarcerated at the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison, Utah, while Tracey and Kate are serving their sentence at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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