A 19-year-old teen from Indiana now faces decades behind bars and inquiries into his mental health after he cut off his mother’s air supply with his bare hands.
Conner Kobold, 19, allegedly killed his mother, Shanelle Burns, 43, and was charged with two counts of murder and one count of aggravated violence.
On February 5, the police were summoned to the Kobold and Burns residence in Valparaiso, Indiana.
In the living room, Burns was discovered lifeless. Kobold surprisingly admitted to strangling her. A nearby hospital later declared her dead.
Both Kobold’s choice to defend himself in court and the circumstances surrounding his mother’s suspected murder have prompted inquiries into his mental health.
The mother and son had become so distant that it got to the point that she sent him an eviction notice.
A full-time job, room cleaning, and general household assistance were all tasks she assigned him to do during the 30 days. This is what supposedly drove Kobold to commit murder.
Judge Michael Fish of the Superior Court has ordered a mental health expert to examine Kobold’s competence as an attorney while he tries to represent himself.
Fish began by asking the defendant if he knew that the murder sentence ranges from 45 to 65 years in prison.
Kobold said that that wasn’t a problem.
Additionally, Fish attempted to elucidate to him the pros and cons of representing oneself in legal matters and the typical credentials held by such individuals.
Fish probed Kobold for details on his schooling, courtroom experience, and public speaking chops.
Although Kobold had practiced public speaking in high school, he had never set foot in a courtroom, according to him.
He went on to confess that he had seen five separate psychiatrists and had two stays in psychiatric hospitals.
Kobold assured that he would be able to represent himself in court despite his difficulties.
August 6th is the scheduled date of the trial.
