A 19-year-old man allegedly killed his mother after she served him an eviction notice demanding he find a job and clean his room if he wanted to continue living in their Indiana home.
Conner Kobold, now 20, is accused of strangling his mother, Shanelle Burns, 43, on February 5, after she issued the notice. According to the Post-Tribune, the notice required Kobold to clean his room, help with common areas, and find a job within 30 days to avoid eviction.
On the same day, police in Valparaiso, Indiana, responded to their home after Kobold called 911 five times. According to court documents obtained by the outlet, he told officers there was a dead person inside the house and admitted to killing someone. Kobold directed police to his mother’s location and asked to be handcuffed and placed in a squad car. Officers noticed scratches on his face.
Inside the house, police found Burns with severe injuries. She was unconscious, not breathing, and had no pulse. Burns was taken to the hospital, where she died two days later. Doctors informed police that she had suffered “substantial” brain damage. Her death was ruled a homicide by asphyxiation due to manual strangulation.
Burns was an assistant vice president in advancement at Loyola University in Chicago. Her colleague, Karen Paciero, described her as “very witty, kind, and poised” and praised her strategic and execution abilities. Paciero added, “We all miss her and profoundly mourn the loss to our division and the University.”
Kobold has a history of mental health issues and informed a judge in February that he had been an inpatient at two mental health facilities and seen five therapists. He initially attempted to represent himself in court, stating that he was the only one who could explain what happened and why. However, he was appointed a public defender in April.
Kobold has pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated battery and murder in connection to his mother’s death. He is currently held at Porter County Jail without bond, with his next court appearance scheduled for August.
