A Loyola University Chicago employee living in Indiana served an eviction notice to her 19-year-old son. He’s accused of strangling her to death in response.
Shanelle Burns, 43, filed the eviction notice against her son, Conner Kobold, now 20, on February 5, according to online court records. That same day, police in Valparaiso, Ind., said they responded to a report of an assault after Kobold called 911 multiple times.
Upon arrival, police said they found an unconscious woman with “serious injuries.” The woman, identified as Burns, in reports by WGN and the Post-Tribune, died two days later. Authorities determined she was strangled, the outlets report.
In order to avoid eviction, Kobold had 30 days to get a job, clean his room and help clean the common areas of the home, the Post-Tribune reported, citing charging documents.
Kobold is charged with murder and aggravated battery in connection with the death of his mother, court records show. He has pleaded not guilty.
According to the school’s website, Burns was an assistant vice president in advancement at Loyola University in Chicago.
“Shanelle was very witty, kind, and poised,” said colleague Karen Paciero in a statement. “She had an exceptional ability to both strategically design and execute; she was a trusted advisor to many within Advancement and so many across the University. We all miss her and profoundly mourn the loss to our division and the University.”
According to her online obituary, Burns was an Indiana native who enjoyed traveling and possessed several creative abilities.
“Shanelle taught herself to play piano, classical of course, a hobby that carried on throughout adulthood,” the obituary reads. “She also would journal voraciously, writing poetry and stories that showed her creative and organizational prowess.”
According to Kobold’s LinkedIn page, he began studying at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 2022.
Kobold’s trial is scheduled to begin in August. He is currently being held in the Porter County Jail. The Post-Tribune reported that Kobold had filed a waiver to represent himself in February, but an online court docket indicates that he was appointed a public defender in April.
