An Iowa teenager who allegedly shoved a youth group home worker to her death after she tried to prevent him from running into traffic has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, court records show.
Background
Kathleen Galloway-Menke, 50, was working as a staff member at Ellipsis, a youth group home in Johnston, Iowa, when the fatal confrontation occurred in May 2024. Court documents allege that Jovahn Mathis, who was 15 years old at the time, had walked away from the facility and attempted to run into traffic on a nearby road. Galloway-Menke was able to stop him from entering the roadway, according to an Occupational Safety and Health Administration fatality report.
The confrontation that followed proved fatal. According to the OSHA report, Mathis "violently shoved" Galloway-Menke, causing her to fall and strike her head on the ground. She suffered an acute subdural hematoma and subarachnoid hemorrhage as a result of what investigators described as a "fatal blunt head injury."
The victim's family has filed a civil lawsuit against Ellipsis, alleging that staff members knew Mathis displayed "extremely violent" behavior toward Galloway-Menke and other female employees but failed to take action. The legal petition claims the facility ignored warnings about the teen's aggressive tendencies and that "inadequate security, chronic understaffing, malfunctioning or unavailable communication devices" contributed to the circumstances leading to Galloway-Menke's death.
Legal Proceedings
Mathis was bound over to adult court as a youthful offender. He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in May 2025. The teen is currently detained at the Iowa Boys State Training School in Eldora and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31.
"Our hearts remain with Kathleen's family and all those affected by this loss," Ellipsis CEO Kelly Hannan told the Des Moines Register in a statement regarding the pending litigation. "While we cannot comment on the pending litigation, we can state that we are committed to seeking a fair and just outcome in this matter while keeping our focus on the vulnerable youth and families we serve."
Key Takeaways
- Kathleen Galloway-Menke, 50, died after allegedly being shoved by a teen she was trying to keep from running into traffic
- Jovahn Mathis pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in May 2025
- The teen is scheduled for sentencing on July 31 at the Iowa Boys State Training School in Eldora
- Galloway-Menke's family has sued Ellipsis, alleging staff knew about Mathis's violent tendencies but failed to act
- OSHA's fatality report documents Galloway-Menke suffered a fatal blunt head injury from the fall
What's Next
Mathis is set to be sentenced later this month. The civil lawsuit against Ellipsis remains pending, with a trial date not yet scheduled. Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and the facility's protocols at the time of Galloway-Menke's death.