SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A woman from Utah, whose husband has been unaccounted for since September, entered a plea of not guilty to charges of murder and other crimes. This development comes as authorities broaden their search for the man and a minivan in a less populated region near the Idaho border.

Jennifer Gledhill, who is 42 years old, was ordered to face trial after her court appearance on Thursday, where she pleaded not guilty to several charges, including murder and obstruction of justice, as reported by KSL-TV.

According to investigators, Gledhill informed a confidential source that she had shot her husband, Matthew Johnson, a 51-year-old member of the Utah National Guard, while he was sleeping and subsequently buried him in a shallow grave at an undisclosed location.

Gledhill’s arrest took place in October, though her attorney, Jeremy Deus, did not respond to requests for comments regarding the situation on behalf of his client.

In the meantime, law enforcement has revealed an expansion in the search area for Johnson’s remains, extending from a locale north of Salt Lake City to a northwestern Utah county. Last weekend, numerous police officers and National Guard members conducted searches in the Snowville area, as stated by police authorities.

Additionally, they are on the lookout for a silver 2018 Chrysler Pacifica minivan that may have been involved in the disposal of Johnson’s body back in September.

“We’re facing a challenging situation; it’s like finding a needle in a haystack without precise details, but we remain hopeful,” expressed Sgt. Gary Young, a spokesperson for Cottonwood Heights police.

Evidence gathered during investigations at the couple’s residence revealed a bloodstain beneath a bed, traces of blood on the bedframe, and indications that the wall had been treated with bleach, as documented in court filings.

The couple was reportedly navigating a divorce and custody battle concerning their three children at the time of these events.