A man has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder charges in connection with the killing of Claudia Voight, the mother of NBC Connecticut news anchor Heidi Voight. The suspect, Shawn Conlon, 44, was arraigned in Brattleboro, Vermont, on Friday. Claudia Voight, 73, was found dead in her Windham home on February 20, 2023. Initially, law enforcement officials believed that Voight had suffered a medical event, but an autopsy later revealed that she died from neck compression, indicating foul play.

The investigation took a significant turn when Heidi Voight, in a July Facebook post, disclosed the true nature of her mother's death. She wrote, "I have been carrying this painful secret: My mother's death was not natural, nor peaceful. My mother was murdered, violently, in the place she should have felt safest - her own home in Windham, Vermont. This has broken me and changed me. But I am my mother's daughter, and I will come back stronger. I will fight for her."

Shawn Conlon, who had been renting a room in Claudia Voight's home, stopped paying rent in late 2022 but continued to reside there until the alleged attack took place. He was apprehended at a hotel in Connecticut in December, nearly 10 months after the murder. Conlon's attorney declined to comment on the case following the arraignment.

Heidi Voight, a well-respected news anchor and former Miss Connecticut, acknowledged Conlon's plea in a social media post, quoting an excerpt from a newspaper article about the court appearance. She has been open about her determination to seek justice for her mother, stating, "I will fight for her."

According to her online work bio, Heidi Voight is an award-winning reporter and morning anchor who was born and raised in Milford, Connecticut. She represented the state at the Miss America Pageant in 2006. The tragic loss of her mother has undoubtedly had a profound impact on her life and career.

The arrest and plea of Shawn Conlon have brought some closure to the case, but the trial is expected to shed further light on the circumstances surrounding Claudia Voight's murder. If convicted, Conlon could face a sentence of life in prison.