Shanelle Burns, assistant vice president of Advancement Operations & Campaign Planning at Loyola, died Feb. 7 due to substantial injuries after being attacked in Valparaiso, Indiana Feb. 5.
Shanelle Burns, assistant vice president of Advancement Operations & Campaign Planning at Loyola, died Feb. 7 due to substantial injuries after being attacked in Valparaiso, Indiana Feb. 5. The incident involved her and her 19-year-old son Conner Kobold, according to a press release from the Valparaiso Police Department. She was 43 years old.
The Valparaiso Police responded to multiple phone calls the evening of Feb. 5 around 4 p.m. from an unknown male, later identified as Kobold, who was requesting police to the 1350 block of Diamond Boulevard, according to the release.
When officers arrived at the scene, they were directed to a nearby residence where they found an unconscious woman, identified as Burns, with serious injuries and no pulse, according to the release. Burns was immediately transported to an area hospital by the Valparaiso Fire Department where she died two days later.
The Valparaiso Police Department said they believe the incident was isolated to the individuals involved and was no threat to the public.
Kobold was initially taken into custody with charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery and strangulation, but his charge was updated Feb. 9 to murder, according to an updated Feb. 9 press release. Kobold is currently being held at the Porter Jail House, according to the release.
Loyola Campus Ministry sent out a bereavement notice Feb. 14 announcing Burns’ death and asking the Loyola community to keep Burns, her family and her friends in their thoughts and prayers.
Burns began her career as an assistant researcher at Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana before working her way to be an assistant vice president at Loyola 22 years later, according to the notice. At Loyola, Burns led a team of 29 colleagues in the Advancement Operations & Campaign Planning office.
Burns is survived by her son, husband and other extended family, according to her obituary. Her husband, sister and mother didn’t respond to The Phoenix’s requests for comment.
“If you were to ask Shanelle’s friends what mattered most to her you would get a universal response: her son,” the obituary reads. “Shanelle worked tirelessly to build an enviable life for the two of them, ensuring he had every opportunity to succeed. She took great pride in being a mother and poured all her resources into building a supportive and loving environment.”
The obituary describes Burns as tenacious, kind, generous and beautiful, and details her constant determination throughout all aspects of her life, including her relationships and career.
Burns loved to travel and go on adventures, particularly with her husband Phil Cook who she married in 2021, according to her obituary.
“Shanelle was taken from all of us much too soon, though she may be gone from this world, her spirit will continue to shine through the lives of all who were fortunate enough to know her,” the obituary reads. “May her memory be a blessing and her legacy inspire all of us to live with the same tenacity, kindness and generosity that defined her remarkable life.”
The obituary said while Burns loved flowers, those looking to share their condolences should consider contributing to the National Alliance on Mental Illness in memoriam of Burns.
Featured image by Austin Hojdar / The Phoenix
