Former Cheerleader Arrested in Newborn’s Death Case

Lexington, Kentucky, September 23, 2025

News Summary

In a disturbing incident in Lexington, a former University of Kentucky cheerleader has been arrested for concealing the death of a newborn found in a trash bag at her residence. Authorities discovered the infant deceased in a closet, leading to charges against the 21-year-old for tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse. Following the shocking revelation, Snelling has since dropped out of school and remains under house arrest. This case has raised concerns about newborn safety and prompted the introduction of a Safe Haven Baby Box in the community.

Lexington, Kentucky – Laken Snelling, a 21-year-old former University of Kentucky cheerleader, has been arrested and charged with concealing the death of a newborn found in a trash bag at her off-campus residence. This incident has shocked the community and raised alarms about the safety of newborns.

On August 25, the University of Kentucky commenced its new semester, but it remains unclear when Snelling officially unenrolled from school. She was previously a member of the university’s STUNT team, recently performing in a National Championship against California Baptist University in Nashville, TN. The STUNT team lost the championship match, marking California Baptist University’s fourth consecutive title win over the Wildcats. Following her arrest, Snelling has dropped out of school and is no longer part of the STUNT team.

Authorities discovered the deceased infant “wrapped in a towel inside a black trash bag” in a closet at her residence in Lexington. The police were alerted after reports of an unresponsive infant were made. Upon their arrival, they pronounced the infant dead at the scene. An autopsy was conducted, but results regarding the cause of death were inconclusive.

During the investigation, Snelling confessed to police that she concealed the birth by cleaning up evidence and discarding it alongside the infant in the trash bag. She has since been charged with concealing the birth of an infant, tampering with physical evidence, and abuse of a corpse. Snelling has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The identity of the individual who reported the alleged crime remains unknown. In an effort to determine paternity, Snelling’s former boyfriend, Izaiah Hall, provided a DNA sample, although his father expressed uncertainty regarding his son’s responsibility as the father. Snelling’s most recent boyfriend, Conner Jordan, has deleted his social media accounts following her arrest.

After her arrest, Snelling was released on a $100,000 bond and is currently under house arrest at her parents’ home in Tennessee. She is scheduled to appear in court on September 26.

In the wake of Snelling’s case, Lexington has unveiled its first Safe Haven Baby Box nearby, allowing parents to surrender infants safely and anonymously. This initiative emphasizes the importance of safe surrender options, which have stirred frustrations among infant safety activists regarding the tragic events surrounding Snelling.

As Snelling’s case unfolds, the community is left grappling with the implications of her actions and the need for resources to support new parents in distress.