WAUKESHA -- Family and friends celebrated the life of a 21-year-old former UWM student Sunday night in Waukesha.
Shannon Mani's body was found stuffed in a suitcase last week. Police say she was shot and stabbed by her boyfriend, Quentin Neal.
"I don't wish any parent to go through this," said Anshu Mani, Shannon's mom. "Maybe Shannon, I won't say was an angel. She is an angel."
According to a criminal complaint, Neal shot the victim twice, stabbed her, tied up her arms and legs and then forced her body into the suitcase. She was 4 months pregnant.
"I didn't know she was pregnant, but when we found out," said Anshu Mani. "I know the Lord is taking both my babies home where they belong."
The criminal complaint states Mani went over to Neal's house Friday night and the two got into an argument. He told police there was a lot of family pressure because her parents did not approve of him.
Police said Neal claimed Mani attacked him so he killed her. Officers found Mani's body in a storage locker Sunday night, where Neal said he left the body. Along with first-degree murder charges, Neal faces first-degree homicide of an unborn child and possession of a firearm by a felon charge.
Neal was previously jailed in 2010 in Washington County for an armed robbery and was on active community supervision. He got out of prison in 2016.
If convicted Neal faces life in prison.
