Son allegedly strangled mother after she served her with an eviction notice

An employee of Loyola University Chicago who lives in Indiana served an eviction notice on her 19-year-old son, who allegedly strangled her.

Shanelle Burns, 43, filed the eviction suit against her son, Conner Kobold, now 20, on Feb. 5, online court records show. That same day, police in Valparaiso, Indiana, responded to a report of an assault after Kobold made multiple calls to 911.

Upon arrival, police found an unconscious woman with “serious injuries.” The woman, who was described in reports by WGN and the Post-Tribune, died two days later. Authorities believed she had been strangled, media reports said.

To avoid eviction, Kobold had 30 days to find a job, clean his room and help clean the home’s common areas. Post-Tribune reported, citing charging documents.

According to court records, Kobold is charged with murder and aggravated assault in connection with his mother’s death. He has pleaded not guilty.

According to the school’s website, Burns was assistant vice president for continuing education at Loyola University in Chicago.

“Shanelle was very funny, kind and poised,” said colleague Karen Paciero in a statement. “She had an extraordinary ability to both plan and execute strategically; she was a trusted advisor to many within Advancement and so many at the University. We all miss her and deeply mourn the loss to our department and the University.”

According to her online obituary, Burns was an Indiana native who enjoyed traveling and had several creative skills.

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“Shanelle taught herself to play the piano, classically of course, a hobby she pursued throughout her adult life,” the obituary states. “She also kept a voracious journal and wrote poems and stories that showcased her creative and organizational skills.”

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. Post-Tribune reported that Kobold filed a waiver of self-representation in February, but an online court record shows he was assigned a public defender in April.