At 11:45 a.m. on March 20, Johnathon Lee Draughan (age 43) was booked into the Mendocino County Jail on the felony charge of murder and a felony charge for a 10-year enhancement on using a weapon during a crime. The charges stem from the fatal shooting of a Covelo woman early yesterday morning.
According to a press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department, Brandy Kay Mathieson age 35 of Covelo called 911 and told the emergency dispatcher her boyfriend was in the house with her and he had a gun. As she was speaking, the dispatcher heard gunshots and Mathieson quit speaking.
The MCSO stated, “A short time later, Draughan spoke on the phone with the dispatcher and advised he had shot his girlfriend and he would await the arrival of deputies. While holding the young child and the weapon, he waited for law enforcement to arrive.
When officers arrived, he was taken into custody without incident. Although CPR was attempted by deputies, Mathieson was eventually confirmed to be deceased.
According to MCSO, their 2-year-old child “was transported to an out-of-county hospital for injuries unrelated to the shooting incident.”
In November of last year, Draughan was charged with the use of tear gas against the deceased, as well as committing assault with great bodily injury. During the court proceedings, a criminal protective order was issued.
On November 8, 2023, Draughan signed a court document stating he did not own or possess any firearms.
On December 20, 2023, the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office filed a motion for the case to be dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Due to the dismissal of the case, the criminal protective order (CPO) was terminated.
The deceased filed for a CPO on January 30, 2024. Draughan was served with notice of the filing on February 2. The CPO was granted on February 20 and an attempt to serve the notice to Draughan was unsuccessful on February 28.
A brief background check on Draughan shows an arrest record dated back to at least 1998 in North Carolina. From ’98 to 2016, Draughan faced at least 14 court cases between North Carolina and South Carolina. In California, the 43-year-old Draughan served two years of probation after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct under the influence of drugs in Del Norte County. A subsequent arrest in Del Norte County occurred on December 22, 2022, for violating a court order to prevent domestic violence.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, it’s important to remember that help is available. You’re not alone. Various organizations offer confidential support, including counseling, safe shelters, and legal assistance. To reach out for help, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline ait 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit their website for more resources. They provide 24/7 support to anyone facing domestic violence, ensuring you have a safe place to turn to. Remember, taking the step to seek help is a sign of strength, and there are people ready and willing to support you through this challenging time.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 800-799-7233
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264, info@nami.org
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): (800) 662-4357
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): (866) 615-6464
- Mental Health America Hotline: Text MHA to 741741
- Crisis Text Line: Text CONNECT to 741741
The following is a press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:
On 03-12-2024 at approximately 5:29 A.M, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from the a subject, later identified as Brandy Kay Mathieson of Covelo, CA. Mathieson reported that she was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of her boyfriend, Johnathan Lee Draughan, recently of Covelo, CA.
Mathieson reported that Draughan was in the house and he was armed with a firearm. While on the phone, gunshots were heard by the dispatcher and Mathieson was no longer speaking with dispatch. A short time later, Draughan spoke on the phone with the dispatcher and advised he had shot his girlfriend and he would await the arrival of deputies. Deputies, who were responding from Willits, arrived and took Draughan into custody without incident. Mathieson was located inside the residence and life saving measures were attempted by the deputies and then continued by local fire resources. Mathieson showed no signs of life and was declared deceased at the scene. Mathieson and Draughan’s 2-year-old child was present and was transported to an out-of-county hospital for injuries unrelated to the shooting incident.
Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Detectives responded and took over the investigation. Criminalists from the California Department of Justice labs in both Eureka and Santa Rosa responded to assist in processing the crime scene for evidence. Draughan was subsequently transported and booked into the Mendocino County Jail on a charge of homicide.
Any persons with information related to this homicide are encouraged to the contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office by calling Dispatch at 707-463-4086, or through the tip line at 707-234-2100.
Previous Coverage
This is what happens when our justice system doesn’t hold people accountable for their actions.
Every month around 70 women are killed by their domestic partners with guns in the US. That’s just with guns.
These women aren’t afraid of transsexuals, of Putin or the Israelis. They are afraid of their own men. They are afraid that the good men left won’t be protecting them.
A quick Google search will reveal that the number of women killed by partners since 2019 has steadily risen.
https://sanctuaryforfamilies.org/femicide-epidemic/#:~:text=Every%20month%2C%20an%20average%20of,partner%20violence%20is%20uniquely%20American.
Very sad for this child and the family 🙏🏻
Our justice system failed to protect this woman and child. What caused the child’s injuries, not related to the shooting? Pray for this child🙏🏻
Local resources for people experiencing domestic violence are NADVSAP in Covelo. and Project Sanctuary (707)463-4375 crisis line. This man’s history demonstrates again how difficult it is to provide safety and protection for domestic violence victims.
💐Condolences to Brandy’s child/ parents/ friends, and neighbors.
God we need YOU back in our society, our schools, our CHURCHES, and our homes!
We need Your commandments hanging on the walls of all of our public service buildings. And Your words written on the tablets of our hearts. Forgive us Father God, help us all to repent and turn away from our wickedness. Heal our land. In JESUS name I pray….Amen.
Neither Jesus nor the Almighty Lord above stepped in to stop the Holocaust, or the first or second world wars, or Vietnam, or the conflict in Ukraine, or the genocide happening in Gaza/Palestine.
What makes you think a lack of God is what brings on evil when in actuality, religion is first and foremost something that we can blame a lot of the worst evils ever brought upon mankind directly on the religious.
Why does it say “attempted” under the murder charge listed on the booking log? I’m sure it’ll get corrected at some point.
Also, the pic you posted must be from previous arrest. The one from this crime is a little different. It’s obvious this man had a demon on board. It could’ve been cast out and Brandy would still be alive. The baby would still have a momma, and a man would be loving and protecting his precious family instead of on his way to prison for this heinous act.
The devil truly comes to kill,steal, and destroy. But Jesus came to give life ( more abundant life).
✝️🙏Jesus we need You.
If you have a demon and it’s causing problems in your life find a pastor who actually knows and believes the Bible and ask for prayer. If the pastor is living a compromised life and cannot cast it out, keep searching for one.
Also The Hope Center on Luce Avenue in Ukiah is having prayer for people needing this kind of freedom on Saturday mornings early. Around 7am I think idk for sure.
Nuff said.
Please know that there are local services available if you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault/abuse. Project Sanctuary has a 24-hour hotline at (707) 463-HELP (4357). All our services, including emergency shelter, are free and confidential.
Those beady Charlie Manson looking eyes tell me all that I need to know about this cat.
The fucker is pure evil and was more than likely hatched from his mothers womb that way.
It always boils down to the same question what and the hell was he doing out in the free world
and locked up in one prison or another?
Catch and Release justices,
Someone needs to look into why Mendocino County DA dropped all charges against the murderer last month for domestic violence against the woman he just murdered. Someone needs to also look into why the DA or the judge ordered her Protective Order for her and her child were dismissed. Then why has per second protective order that she had to go and obtain on her own been sitting for a month with MCSO unserved?
Dropped due to insufficient c evidence. Victim returned to suspect and refused to testify . Therefore no case
Cry baby judges with soft hearts are more to blame than the criminal scum.
Wasn’t the woman arrested earlier this year for domestic violence? The whole thing is quite a mess that may never be known. Truly saddening.
Evidently the D.A,’s office dropped the ball and failed to protect the victim. Maybe remember this case come election time!
So much talk about protective orders. Only way they are helpful is if they are abided by. It’s impossible for a police officer to stay with every p erson who is victim of domestic abuse. And to think they should is unreasonable. Protective orders are issued by judges at arraignment after a arrest or by a victim going to court asking for one. Protective orders usually violated by victim by allowing offender back. Probably 95% of domestic violence charges are dropped by victim who refuses to testify ….leaving state with no case. Most victims bail suspect out of jail. So how can the state do anything? I’m not sure of a solution or if there is one….other than self protection. Battered women shelters are short term and fort Braggs is highly advertised out front inviting a offender to enter. Don’t understand that
Not to disregard God in all this but please while your praying or looking for a righteous preacher please also be calling police family helplines!!!
Maybe if Matt Kendall wasn’t so busy with his podcast something could have been done about this creep between Feb 20-28.
Just reread this. I’m fairly certain MCSO let this fall through the cracks to punish the deceased for stopping cooperation on the earlier case. This more often than not is the case. I had a friend go through Domestic Violence and we talked a lot about how hard it was for her to break that cycle. I hope that two year old kid gets a good Lawyer because the Sheriff definitely dropped the ball here. Reading the list of priors of this scumbag, it becomes obvious MCSO was sitting on their hands, failed to prevent a preventable murder.