- Tracey Grist, 60, will likely spend her life in prison, the judge said, after issuing consecutive prison sentences.
- Grist was found guilty of conspiring to murder her son-in-law as he arrived at her home, her daughter and son were already sentenced to prison for the killing.
- Family of the victim spoke about the lasting impact of her actions on both sides of the family.
PROVO — An American Fork woman was given consecutive prison sentences on Wednesday for murdering and conspiring to murder her son-in-law, who was shot and killed by her son moments after arriving at her home.
Tracey Grist, 61, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for murder, a first-degree felony; two terms of one to 15 years in prison for conspiracy to commit murder and obstruction of justice, second-degree felonies; and two terms of zero to five years in prison for two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, a third-degree felony.
Fourth District Judge Roger Griffin ordered the sentences to run consecutively, imposing the maximum possible sentence, citing "grave concerns" that she would harm people who testified against her for "equally baseless reasons." He said he anticipates she will not be released from prison while alive, and would make a note that he does not think she should ever have a parole hearing.
"In the court's view, you're incredibly dangerous and your character and actions show that any rehabilitative needs are overcome by your willingness to kill, simply for you or your children's convenience," he said.
According to Griffin, this was "one of the most senseless crimes" he has seen while an attorney or a judge. He said that as a grandmother, she is supposed to protect her grandchildren, and called it "incomprehensible' that she did not counsel her daughter to get a divorce instead of assisting in her son-in-law's murder.
"The gravity of your actions cannot be overstated. You were clearly the mastermind in a plot that led to your son-in-law's death, a man who simply thought he was coming to Utah to pick up his wife and children," the judge told Grist.
Evidence presented at trial showed Grist's family members were tracking Matthew Restelli with an AirTag they left in his truck as he drove from his home in California to Utah with intentions to bring his wife and children home.
On the evening of July 12, 2024, Grist called 911 minutes after her neighbor to report that Restelli had been shot in her home. Kevin Ellis, Restelli's brother-in-law, claimed he fired the gun in self-defense, but officers testified the knife found in Restelli's hand appeared to be placed backward, and that his wrist had been shot.
'Demon' and 'mastermind'
The younger brother and mother of the Restelli spoke for the third time on Wednesday about his loss, after speaking at earlier sentencing hearings for his wife Kathryn Restelli and Ellis. Both family members asked for the maximum possible sentence for Grist, saying they wanted her grandchildren to grow up without her influence.
Jonathan Restelli, who has custody of Matthew Restelli's young children, now 5 and 8, said they "should have had decades to build memories and learn from their father."
"Tracy, you stole that from them. You stole every birthday, every Christmas morning, every camping trip, every fishing trip, every game, every graduation, every father-daughter dance, every hug, every I love you," the brother said.
He told those in the courtroom he didn't want to be there, but needed to represent his brother, whose voice was "permanently silenced." He called Grist — "the root of the poisonous tree, the literal elephant in the room, the demon sitting before this court, the mastermind."
Jonathan Restelli said his brother believed his in-laws would protect him as he protected them, but "gave loyalty to the wrong people, and that loyalty cost him his life."
He read from messages Grist's daughter sent her, saying she "used and abused almost every single person you've known."
"Tracey is a demon who poisoned her own family, and through them she murdered mine," Jonathan Restelli said. "You changed the course of two families and countless other people forever."
The victim's mother, Diane Restelli, said she was betrayed by Grist, who had lied to her both before and after the killing. She said Grist lured her son in and "trapped him like an animal," wanted to kill him because he knew who she was and "wouldn't bow down."
"Matt only wanted to keep his family safe from your evil and conniving ways. He was so right in this regard, and it cost him his life," she said. "You left a hole in our hearts and daily lives. You have no idea the anguish you have caused by his senseless death that will echo in the lives of our family for generations to come."
Tyrese Boone, KSLDiane Restelli questioned how Grist became so evil and included her children in her plot, telling her she made a "horrendous mistake" and "sacrificed your own children."
"There are children at stake here, and you acted with no regard to their future, with or without their mother and father. You did not care about the grandkids," she said.
No comments
Grist chose not to share a statement at her sentencing. Her attorney spoke briefly about her efforts to enroll in programs while in jail, and the judge said he had read three statements in support of Grist.
She testified at her own trial and denied that she was part of any "murder plan." She said she cleaned her house "because it was a disaster," not in preparation for blood spatter as her daughter's testimony implied.
The woman will likely spend more time in jail than her two children also convicted in Matthew Restelli's murder.
Griffin sentenced Kathryn Restelli in September to two terms of one to 15 years in prison for a reduced charge of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, second-degree felonies, and five years to life for felony discharge of a firearm, a first-degree felony.
She pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal that reduced the murder charge from a first-degree felony and agreed to testify as part of that deal at the trials for Ellis and Grist.
Ellis was found guilty of murder during his trial, but not guilty of conspiracy to commit murder. He was sentenced on March 31 to a term of 15 years to life in prison for murder, a first-degree felony; one to 15 years for obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony; and two terms of zero to five years for domestic violence in the presence of a child, a third-degree felony. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively.
