Shanelle Burns, a Loyola University Chicago employee residing in Indiana, served her 19-year-old son, Conner Kobold, an eviction notice. He stands accused of causing her death by strangulation.
Records indicate Burns filed the notice on February 5. That same day, Valparaiso authorities responded to multiple 911 calls from Kobold reporting an assault. They found Burns unconscious with severe injuries; she passed away two days later due to strangulation.
According to court documents, Kobold had a 30-day deadline to find employment, clean his room, and help maintain shared spaces in their home, as reported by the Post-Tribune.
Kobold faces charges of murder and aggravated battery, having pleaded not guilty. Burns held the position of assistant vice president in advancement at Loyola University Chicago, while Kobold began his studies at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 2022.
His trial is scheduled for August, and he is currently in custody at Porter County Jail. Initially intending to represent himself, Kobold was appointed a public defender in April, according to The Post-Tribune.
Based on court documents, a man suspected of killing his mother is charged with both murder and aggravated violence. The accused has submitted a not guilty plea. Burns was an assistant vice president for promotion at Loyola University in Chicago, according to the school’s website.
According to Kobold’s LinkedIn profile, he started attending the US Merchant Marine Academy in 2022.
August is when Kobold’s trial is scheduled to start. At present, he is detained at the Porter County Jail. The Post-Tribune said that Kobold first submitted a waiver in February to represent himself. But according to a court docket available online, he was assigned a public lawyer in April.