Sunday, 20 April 2025

Covelo man arrested for killing girlfriend

Johnathan Lee Draughan. Mendocino County Jail photo.

NORTH COAST, Calif. — The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Covelo man for the killing of the mother of his child.

Johnathan Lee Draughan, 43, was arrested for the early Wednesday morning kiling of 35-year-old Brandy Kay Mathieson, also of Covelo, according to a report from Lt. Andrew Porter.

At 5:29 a.m. Wednesday, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from Mathieson, who reported that she was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of her boyfriend, Johnathan Lee Draughan.

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, Porter said.

A short time later, Porter said 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, Porter said.

Mathieson was located inside the residence and life saving measures were attempted by the deputies and then continued by local fire resources. Porter said Mathieson showed no signs of life and was declared deceased at the scene.

Mathieson’s 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, Porter said.

Porter said 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, Porter said. He is being held without bail, according to jail records.

Any persons with information related to this homicide are encouraged to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office by calling Dispatch at 707-463-4086, or through the tip line at 707-234-2100.

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