DES MOINES, Iowa — A teen accused of killing an Ellipsis employee a year ago pled guilty to multiple charges, including voluntary manslaughter, on Wednesday.

On May 8, 2024, the Johnston Police Department responded to the Ellipsis behavioral health center on NW Beaver Drive for a report of a juvenile who had left the facility. Responding officers arrived at the intersection of NW 70th Avenue and NW Beaver Drive, east of the facility, where they found staff member 50-year-old Kathleen Galloway-Menke, suffering from serious injuries. Galloway-Menke was hospitalized for several days before she succumbed to her injuries.

According to the Polk County Attorney’s Office, Galloway-Menke had stepped in front of the teen who left the facility, now identified as 16-year-old Jovahn Karhim Deon Mathis, to stop him from running into the street. Mathis then shoved Galloway-Menke, resulting in her fatal injury. The attorney’s office also said that four officers suffered minor injuries in the incident.

Mathis reportedly said in court that he left the facility “in a state of extreme anger” and that Galloway-Menke made him angrier when she stepped in front of him before he pushed past her, according to the attorney’s office.

During a hearing on Wednesday, Mathis pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter for Galloway-Menke’s death, as well as three aggravated misdemeanors and four serious misdemeanors for assaulting the officers. Mathis was originally charged with second-degree murder.

A Polk County judge ruled that Mathis would be sent to adult court as a youthful offender and will be sentenced on July 31, 2026, shortly before he turns 18. He will be held at the Iowa Boys State Training School until his sentencing. According to the attorney’s office, Mathis could face up to 20 years in prison.

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