Kyle Lombardo: Mentally ill California man accused of killing mom who 'loved him more than anything'

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

BURBANK, CALIFORNIA: Police reports indicate that a California kindergarten teacher lost her life during a confrontation with her adult son on Tuesday, May 7.

Karyn Lombardo, a teacher at Bret Harte School, aged 57, was declared deceased at her residence on North Avon Street at approximately 10 pm.

Subsequent to the incident, 25-year-old Kyle Lombardo, her son, was apprehended on suspicion of murder due to evidence gathered at the scene.

He is currently in custody with bail set at $2 million, as per Fox News.

Karyn Lombardo was killed amid altercation with son

Detectives discovered that the mother was killed during a confrontation with her son, who resided with her in their home. However, the police have yet to confirm the motive behind the killing.

Amid the uncertainty, Lombardo's husband, Vince, asserted that their son suffers from a mental condition and that the police have been called to their home in the past.

Vince expressed, "It’s a reactionary system and that’s basically what I was told, until something happens, you can’t do anything. There’s not enough help to help these people, especially when they become adults." 

He added, "She loved him more than anything and tried to help him. All of her students love her. Coming through the system here, there were students who became teachers because of her. She’s a very magnificent person and I think if you ask anybody, I think she’s too kind and that she loves to a fault."

Vince lamented his wife's death as a "loss to the world," emphasizing her 30-year tenure as a teacher in the community and affectionately referring to her as "the unofficial mayor of Burbank."

He recounted his last conversation with his wife over the phone while he was away in Lake Arrowhead the night she was killed. "We texted, and everything was fine," he recounted. "I expected to see her today, and then I got the call." Shortly after, he received notification from the police that his wife had been killed.

Kyran Lombardo’s school mourns loss

Natalie Talamantes, the incoming president of the school's PTA, described Lombardo as "the heart and soul of Bret Harte, an outstanding teacher," and added, "You would always see her in her bee costume."

Former student Zoe Bautista reminisced about the kindergarten teacher's influence, saying, "She made us feel like we were the luckiest kids in the world. She would always tell us that if we were down, just to love ourselves and to talk to our parents about it."

John Paramo, the superintendent of the Burbank Unified School District, highlighted Lombardo's profound impact on the community, stating that she "touched the lives of thousands of students, parents and colleagues" over her 30-year career.

Lombardo had been a part of Bret Harte since 1993, following three years as a bilingual teacher at Joaquin Miller Elementary.

Paramo remarked, "Her dedication, warmth and passion for teaching touched many students and colleagues' lives. Her profound impact and loss on this community will be deeply felt throughout the City of Burbank." 

What happened in the court hearing of Kyle Lombardo?

During a brief hearing on Thursday, May 9, Kyle Lombardo appeared tearful and kept his head mostly bowed. He faced charges of killing his mother, Karyn, at their Burbank, California home.

Lombardo attended court for an arraignment, which has been postponed until May 22, as per Daily Mail.

Deputy Public Defender Jimmy Chu stated that Lombardo and his mother had engaged in a confrontation on Tuesday, resulting in her accidental death.

Chu expressed to reporters outside the Burbank courthouse, "I'm very aware that my client's mother was a beloved member of the community. We offer our deepest condolences. However, it is also my understanding that at this time this tragedy is a result of an accident, following an altercation between a son and a mother, whom my client deeply loved."

Chu further noted that he and his team are investigating Lombardo's mental health and any intellectual developmental disabilities he may have.

Karyn Lombardo, originally from the English seaside town of Bournemouth, lavished attention on her 25-year-old son, according to family members.

Karyn's brother Kevin, who attended the hearing, remarked, "Kyle has struggled with his mental health for years and years. My hope is this draws attention to the problems of mental health."

Chu confirmed that no weapons were involved in the incident. Lombardo's father, Vince, was not present at the hearing, as per Fox News.