An Iowa teenager has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting responsibility for the death of a youth group home employee who suffered a fatal head injury when he allegedly shoved her as she tried to stop him from running into traffic.
Jovahn Mathis, 18, received the sentence Friday after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of Kathleen Galloway-Menke, a 50-year-old employee at a youth group home in Johnston, Iowa.
Plea Deal Reduced Original Murder Charge
According to a news release from the Polk County Attorney’s Office, Mathis accepted a plea agreement in May 2025.
Under the agreement, prosecutors reduced the original charge of second-degree murder to voluntary manslaughter.
On Friday, the court sentenced him to 20 years in prison.
Although he will be eligible for parole under Iowa law, the judge denied Mathis’ request for probation.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered him to pay $150,000 in restitution to Galloway-Menke’s estate.
Defendant Apologized During Sentencing
During the sentencing hearing, Mathis addressed the court and apologized to the victim’s family.
According to the Polk County Attorney’s Office, he said he had worked to improve his behavior and better control his anger and impulsive actions while in custody.
Mathis told the judge he was no longer the same person he had been at the time of the incident and said his emotions no longer controlled him.
He also directly addressed Galloway-Menke, expressing remorse and saying he never intended for her to be harmed.
Family Asked Court for Justice
Several members of Galloway-Menke’s family delivered victim impact statements before sentencing.
Those who spoke included her mother, father, two daughters, two brothers, and a sister-in-law.
Her brother, Paul Galloway, told the court it was heartbreaking that someone his sister had been trying to help ultimately took her life.
Following the sentencing, Galloway-Menke’s daughter, Chloe Williamson, said the family believed justice had been served, while acknowledging that the legal process was not yet completely over.
Deadly Incident Occurred in 2024
The fatal incident occurred in May 2024 while Galloway-Menke was working at Ellipsis, a youth residential treatment facility in Johnston, Iowa.
According to investigators, Mathis, who was 15 years old at the time, left the facility without authorization and attempted to run into a nearby busy roadway.
Galloway-Menke followed him in an effort to prevent him from entering traffic.
Authorities said that after she stopped him, Mathis violently shoved her.
She fell backward, striking her head on the ground.
According to a fatality investigation conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the force of the fall caused fatal blunt-force head injuries.
Medical records cited in the OSHA report state that Galloway-Menke died from an acute subdural hematoma and subarachnoid hemorrhage, both forms of traumatic brain bleeding.
Youthful Offender Status
Mathis was prosecuted in adult court as a youthful offender.
Following his conviction, he was housed at the Iowa Boys State Training School in Eldora, where he remained until turning 18 years old on Aug. 1.
He will now serve the remainder of his sentence within the adult correctional system.
Family Files Civil Lawsuit
Separate from the criminal case, Galloway-Menke’s family has filed a civil lawsuit against Ellipsis, alleging the organization failed to protect employees despite repeated warnings about Mathis’ behavior.
Court records show that Chloe Williamson and Camille Menke, Galloway-Menke’s daughters, filed the lawsuit in June 2026.
The lawsuit alleges the facility knew Mathis had displayed repeated violent behavior toward Galloway-Menke and other female employees but failed to take appropriate action.
According to the complaint, staff warned management that Mathis was not an appropriate fit for the facility and required placement in a more secure setting.
The lawsuit further alleges that Ellipsis failed to:
- Remove Mathis from the facility despite ongoing violent behavior.
- Transfer him to a more appropriate or secure placement.
- Adequately protect employees from dangerous residents.
- Implement sufficient safety procedures and security protocols.
- Address chronic understaffing and communication failures.
The family also claims inadequate security measures and malfunctioning or unavailable communication devices contributed to the circumstances that allowed Mathis to leave the campus before the fatal confrontation.
Facility Responds
In response to the pending lawsuit, Ellipsis CEO Kelly Hannan expressed sympathy for Galloway-Menke’s family.
While declining to comment on the ongoing litigation, Hannan said the organization remains committed to pursuing a fair resolution while continuing its work serving vulnerable youth and families.
Case Concluded, Civil Litigation Continues
With the sentencing complete, the criminal case against Mathis has largely concluded.
However, the civil lawsuit filed by Galloway-Menke’s family against the youth treatment facility remains pending as they continue seeking accountability for the circumstances surrounding her death.
