Kindergarten Teacher Murdered By Her Son: Police

BURBANK, CA — A 57-year-old kindergarten teacher was killed in her Burbank home, and her 25-year-old son is suspected of murdering her, police said Wednesday.

Police found Karyn Lombardo, a teacher at Bret Harte Elementary, unconscious inside her home in the 800 block of North Avon Street Tuesday and arrested her son Kyle Lombardo on suspicion of murder. News of her death devastated the community where she taught. Police have not announced a motive in for the slaying.

"When police officers andparamedics arrived, they found the unconscious woman inside the home. Life-saving measureswere taken by officers and paramedics, but the woman was pronounced deceased at the scene," the Burbank Police Department announced in a written statement.

Karyn Lombardo lived in the home with her adult son and husband.

"Ms. Lombardo's adult son was subsequently arrested ... based on information obtained and evidence at the scene revealing he caused her death during an altercation in the family home," police said. "There are no outstanding suspects or any danger to the community."

Kyle Lombardo is being held on $2 million bail.

Her husband of 31 years, Vince Lombardo, told KTLA he's devastated, adding that his wife deeply loved her son, who suffers from a mental condition.

“She loved him more than anything and tried to help him,” he told KTLA. “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.

"She’s been a teacher in Burbank for over 30 years and has a significant following in Burbank...A lot of kids, a lot of people. I always called her the unofficial mayor of Burbank.

The Burbank Unified School District Superintendent John Paramo sent a message to district families on Wednesday

"Over the course of her highly accomplished career, Ms. Lombardo touched the lives of thousands of students, parents, and colleagues, who will be mourning this loss in the days to come," Superintendent John Paramo wrote in a message to district families on Wednesday. "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."

According to Paramo, Lombardo joined the district in 1990, teaching bilingual classes at Joaquin Miller Elementary School. She transferred to Bret Harte in 1993, teaching kindergarten and performing arts.

Counselors were made available to students at staff at the school following news of her death, the superintendent said.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call detectives at 818-238-3210.

City News Service contributed to this report.