Recently obtained court records reveal the man who killed two women outside an Ames church earlier this month had a history of mental illness.

A report by Boone Police from early May shows officers made a welfare check at Johnathan Whitlatch’s home.  The person who requested the check indicated they were concerned Whitlatch would harm himself.  When officers arrived, they found Whitlatch in his car parked in his driveway.  Whitlatch told police he was not faring well and had recently seen a doctor about a medical condition.  The responding officers took Whitlatch to a nearby hospital.

On May 31st, Whitlatch was arrested in Boone on an active warrant issued out of Ames.  Whitlatch was being sought for harassing his ex-girlfriend, Eden Montang, and impersonating a police officer.

Later that week, Whitlatch killed Montang and her friend, Vivian Flores outside the Cornerstone Church before taking his own life.

Police previously had two investigations into Whitlatch, one involving his relationship with Montang.  The other relating to a sexual assault incident involving another woman in Cedar Falls in 2021.  Whitlatch was set to go on trial for the case in July.