Lexington, Kentucky, September 30, 2025

News Summary

Laken Snelling, a former cheerleader for the University of Kentucky, was arrested after police discovered her deceased newborn in a closet at her apartment. The infant was found wrapped in a towel inside a trash bag. Snelling claimed to have passed out on the baby after giving birth. She faces several charges including abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, while an autopsy on the infant proved inconclusive regarding the cause of death. Snelling is currently under house arrest and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Lexington, Kentucky: Former UK Cheerleader Laken Snelling Arrested After Newborn Found Dead in Closet

Laken Snelling, a former cheerleader for the University of Kentucky, was arrested following the discovery of her deceased newborn infant in a closet at her off-campus apartment. The body was found on August 27, wrapped in a towel and placed inside a black trash bag, according to authorities.

Police responded to a report of the dead infant, which was reported to be cold to the touch and determined to have been deceased for three to four hours. During the investigation, Snelling, 21, informed law enforcement that she had passed out on top of the baby after giving birth. She claimed she did not regain consciousness until she noticed the infant had turned blue and purple.

Snelling reported that the baby exhibited “a little fetal movement” and made a “whimper” at birth, causing her to initially believe it was alive. After awakening, she wrapped the baby “like a burrito” for comfort, under the assumption that he was no longer alive. Snelling later admitted to cleaning up after the childbirth and placing the infant’s body in a trash bag.

As a result of the incident, Snelling has been charged with few serious offenses, including abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. Court documents have revealed that Snelling had searched online for terms related to concealed pregnancy. Additionally, her social media accounts reportedly contained deleted photographs of her pregnancy and labor.

Witness accounts from roommates indicated they heard loud noises the night of the birth. They later discovered a blood-soaked towel and a plastic bag containing evidence of childbirth in her room. Snelling further acknowledged visiting a McDonald’s after the birth and skipping her scheduled 9:30 a.m. class on the day the body was found.

Following her arrest on August 31, Snelling was able to post a $100,000 bond and has since been placed under house arrest at her parents’ residence in Tennessee. In her court appearance on September 2, Snelling pleaded not guilty to all charges and subsequently waived her right to a preliminary hearing on September 26, allowing her case to approach a grand jury.

An autopsy performed on the infant was inconclusive in determining the cause of death, and the investigation remains ongoing to ascertain if the baby was born alive, stillborn, or if a miscarriage occurred. Snelling is no longer enrolled at the University of Kentucky and has stepped down from her position on the STUNT cheerleading team, where she had been a member for three seasons.

Key Details of the Case

• Incident Date: August 27
• Charges: Abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, concealing the birth of an infant
• Arrest Date: August 31
• Bond Amount: $100,000
• Court Appearance: September 2
• Next Hearing: Grand jury after waiving preliminary hearing on September 26
• Current Status: Under house arrest at parents’ home in Tennessee
• University Status: No longer enrolled at University of Kentucky

FAQ

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Tragic Pedestrian Accident Claims Life in Lexington
Tragic Incident Near University of Kentucky Involves Infant Death
Legal Charges Against Former University of Kentucky Athlete
University of Kentucky Student Charged After Newborn Found in Trash
Grand Jury to Review Case of Laken Snelling
Lexington Woman Charged in Newborn’s Death
Mother Arrested for Leaving Children Home Alone in Pikeville
Former University of Kentucky Student Charged in Baby’s Death
Former University of Kentucky Student Charged in Infanticide Case
Former UK Student-Athlete Charged After Newborn Found Dead

Additional Resources

• Times of India
• Wikipedia: Laken Snelling
• Court TV
• Google Search: Laken Snelling childbirth incident
• People
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Laken Snelling
• US Magazine
• Google Scholar: Laken Snelling case
• New York Post
• Google News: Laken Snelling

Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON KY STAFF

The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexingtonKY.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.