Shanelle Burns, a cherished college administrator at Loyola University Chicago, met a tragic end that left her loved ones and colleagues in dismay. The authorities’ prime suspect in the brutal attack on her has left everyone even more stunned.
When authorities arrived at the family home in Valparaiso, Indiana on February 5th, they were informed by 19-year-old Conner Kobold that he had allegedly murdered his mother.
According to court documents recently released, on Feb. 5, Kobold made five separate calls to 911. When the police arrived, he requested to be handcuffed and placed in the back of the squad car. He informed an officer that there was a deceased individual inside the house on the corner, and when asked to elaborate, he admitted to having killed someone in that specific house. WGN 9 reported that the officer also observed minor scratches on Kobold’s face.
The cause of her death was determined to be asphyxiation due to manual strangulation, leading to a homicide ruling. Kobold was charged with aggravated battery and murder, despite pleading not guilty. In February, he filed a waiver to represent himself without an attorney, but court documents reveal that he was appointed a public defender in April. Currently, he is being held without bond at Porter County Jail.
As per Kobold’s LinkedIn profile, he attended a prestigious private boarding school in Indiana that has an annual tuition fee of $65,000. Additionally, he was pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. A cheerful young man in a uniform and white gloves can be seen in his profile picture.
As an assistant vice president in advancement at Loyola University in Chicago, Burns was a dedicated individual who left behind a loving husband, two stepdaughters, and her son, Kobold. Her obituary highlighted her as a tenacious, kind, and generous person, but above all, a devoted mother to her son.
When you ask Shanelle’s friends about what mattered the most to her, they all answer unanimously: her son. Shanelle’s dedication to creating a fulfilling life for the two of them was tireless, and she made sure that her son had every possible opportunity to thrive. Being a mother was a source of great pride for Shanelle, and she put all her resources into building a nurturing and caring environment for her son.
The start of Kobold’s trial is scheduled for this summer, and his next court appearance is set for August.