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Spellcaster testifies at murder trial. Legal fireworks in UNC student murder. Plus, cars and crime.
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Tracey Grist Sentencing: The Utah Murder-for-Hire Mastermind
At 26:58 · chapter starts 25:20
In July 2024, Matthew Ristelli drove to his mother-in-law Tracey Grist's home in Utah, believing he was picking up his wife and children. Minutes after arriving, he was shot dead. Caitlin Cutt explains how investigators quickly rejected Tracey's self-defense claim and built a case showing the killing was premeditated: Tracey, the prosecution argued, had orchestrated an ambush using her daughter Kate as bait and her son Kevin Ellis as the shooter. Kate pleaded guilty and testified against her own family. [1] — Caitlin Cutt "Tracey Grist masterminded the ambush murder of Matthew Ristelli in 2024 by convincing her daughter to lure him to the house, where her son …" 25:20 At sentencing, Matthew's younger brother Jonathan addressed Tracey directly, telling her that a grandmother is supposed to protect her grandchildren, not destroy their future. Judge Roger Griffin's words were equally harsh: he called Tracey 'incredibly dangerous' and said her willingness to kill for convenience overcame any rehabilitative potential. [2] — Judge Roger Griffin "In the court's view, you're incredibly dangerous, and your character and actions show that any rehabilitative needs are overcome by your wi…" 27:14 Griffin sentenced her to 15 years to life for murder, with additional consecutive sentences for conspiracy and two domestic violence charges — all to run back to back, not concurrently.
Tracey Grist masterminded the ambush murder of Matthew Ristelli in 2024 by convincing her daughter to lure him to the house, where her son shot him. The judge called her 'incredibly dangerous' and sentenced her to 15 years to life, plus additional consecutive time. His brother told her she had destroyed her own grandchildren's future.
Tracey Grist, convicted of masterminding the 2024 murder of her son-in-law Matthew Ristelli, was sentenced to 15 years to life plus additional consecutive sentences for conspiracy and domestic violence charges.
