Teen Faces Decades in Prison for Allegedly Strangling Mother to Death Over Eviction Notice.

A 19-year-old man from Indiana could spend decades behind bars after being taken into custody on charges of fatally strangling his mother. Conner Kobold, 19, is accused of two charges of murder and one count of aggravated violence in relation to the passing of Shanelle Burns, his mother, who was 43 years old.

Police were called to Kobold and Burns' Valparaiso residence on February 5. In the living room, Burns was discovered unconscious and not breathing, and Kobold surprisingly admitted to having strangled her. She was later declared deceased at a nearby medical facility.

In light of his choice to represent himself throughout the trial and the reason he is accused of killing his mother, Kobold is currently the subject of mental health inquiries. The mother sent her son an eviction notice since their relationship had gotten strained, according to Mail Online. She also gave him a 30-day deadline to tidy his room, help out around the house, and locate a full-time job.

Judge Michael Fish of the Superior Court has asked a mental health expert to look into Kobold's competency as he tries to represent himself. Fish remarked on Friday, "I want Dr. (Anand) Popli to weigh in on whether you're capable of representing yourself."

"I suppose the most important thing right now is for me to make sure that you understand that the penalty for murder is 45 to 65 years," Fish inquired. Do you realize that?

"Yes, sir," Kobold replied.

Fish also made an effort to explain to him the benefits and drawbacks of representing himself in court as well as the credentials that most solicitors possess. "Do you believe you have any skills or abilities that would help you represent yourself?" was the next question he posed.

"I believe my case is so unique that the only person who can explain what happened and why it happened is myself," Kobold replied. Fish questioned Kobold about his training, his courtroom and public speaking experiences, and his history in teaching.

Although Kobold claimed to have completed his high school education and practiced public speaking, he had never before appeared in court. Subsequently, he acknowledged that he had visited two mental health centers and five different psychologists.

Despite his difficulties, Kobold declared he would not let them stop him from representing himself in court. In his first act as his attorney, he was then asked if he intended to enter a plea or proceed to trial. Kobold uttered the words, "Whatever I can do to help the court and the jury make the best decision about my situation." He said he would first negotiate with the state after learning he had to make that decision on his own.

Fish allowed Kobold to represent himself while he awaited the doctor's assessment of the defendant's mental state. Kobold could spend between 45 and 84 years in jail and pay $20,000 in fines if found guilty on all three charges. August 6 is designated as the trial date.