A 19-year-old Indiana man faces decades in prison after being arrested for allegedly strangling his mother to death.
Conner Kobold, 19, has been charged with two counts of murder and one count of aggravated battery in the death of his mother, 43-year-old Shanelle Burns.
On February 5, police were dispatched to the Valparaiso home where Kobold and Burns lived. Burns was found unresponsive and not breathing in the living room, with Kobold reportedly confessing to strangling her. She was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Kobold now faces mental health evaluations regarding both his decision to represent himself at trial and the motive behind the alleged crime.
According to reports, the relationship between Burns and Kobold had become strained, prompting Burns to issue an eviction letter to her son. She also gave him 30 days to find a full-time job, clean his room, and help around the house.
As Kobold moves to act as his own lawyer, Superior Court Judge Michael Fish has requested a mental health professional to assess his competency.
"I want Dr. (Anand) Popli to chime in on whether you're capable of representing yourself," Fish said on Friday.
Fish asked Kobold if he understood that the penalty for murder ranges from 45 to 65 years. Kobold affirmed he did.
The judge also explained the benefits and challenges of self-representation, noting the qualifications typically required for legal counsel. When asked if he believed he had the skills to represent himself, Kobold responded, "I believe my case is so unique that the only person who can explain what happened and why it happened is myself."
Kobold revealed he has a high school education, had experience with public speaking in school, but had never been in court before. He also admitted to having been in mental health facilities twice and having seen five different psychologists.
Despite these challenges, Kobold stated he would not be hindered in acting on his own behalf in court. When asked if he planned to enter a plea or go to trial, he said he would first negotiate with the state.
Fish granted Kobold a waiver to represent himself pending the mental health evaluation.
If convicted on all three counts, Kobold faces between 45 and 84 years in prison and fines up to $20,000.
The trial is set for August 6.
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