TRUMBULL, CT – Friends and family are mourning the loss of Lida Shape, a beloved mother and grandmother, who was killed just one day after her 70th birthday in a brutal attack at her Connecticut home. Authorities allege that her former son-in-law, Ylli Shtopaku, was responsible for her death, striking her multiple times with a baseball bat.
Shape, who recently celebrated her milestone birthday with her family, returned to her residence at Ten Trumbull apartments on April 28, accompanied by a friend. Around midday, she was confronted by Shtopaku, and a violent encounter ensued in the complex’s clubhouse, according to police accounts.
First responders arrived at the scene to find Shape critically injured, lying on her back and struggling for breath following what officers described as a vicious and sustained assault. Despite their efforts, she later succumbed to her injuries.
The suspect, 46-year-old Shtopaku, was taken into custody after being identified by a neighbor in the aftermath of the attack. According to authorities, he admitted to following Shape back to her complex after an unplanned encounter at a local mall. He told investigators he confronted her at the clubhouse, and, after a heated exchange, retrieved a bat from his car and attacked.
Investigators believe the motivation for the assault was rooted in lingering resentment from the past. Shtopaku blamed the victim, who was once his mother-in-law, for the collapse of his marriage, the loss of his house, and his ongoing financial problems, detectives reported.
Shape had shared her home with her daughter—Shtopaku’s former wife—and their two grandchildren. The family had endured strain following the couple’s divorce, but no one suspected violence on such a tragic scale.
Prosecutors have charged Shtopaku with murder, and he remains held on a $3 million bond while the legal proceedings continue. A plea deal was reportedly offered by prosecutors recently, but the specifics of the arrangement have not been publicly disclosed.
Shape’s friends and neighbors described her as a caring and generous person, devoted to her daughter and grandchildren. She was known in her community for her warmth, celebrating her 70th birthday surrounded by those she loved most—just hours before her life was cut short.
Shtopaku, who has not entered a plea, is slated to appear in court again in February of 2026. The investigation remains active as authorities gather additional evidence and prepare for trial.
The tragic loss has left a stain on the tight-knit community in Trumbull, where Shape had long been a familiar and cherished presence. As her family grieves, they remember her for her kindness and resilience, seeking answers in the wake of a heartbreaking act of violence.