A 21-year-old University of Kentucky student and member of the competitive STUNT cheer team, Laken Ashlee Snelling, was arrested in late August after authorities discovered the body of a newborn hidden in a closet at an off-campus residence.
Lexington police were dispatched on August 27 to investigate a report of an unresponsive infant. Upon arrival, officers found the deceased baby wrapped in a towel and placed inside a black trash bag in a closet. The infant was pronounced dead at the scene.
During questioning, Snelling reportedly admitted to giving birth and attempting to conceal the evidence by placing the infant and cleaning materials in the same trash bag.
Snelling has been charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant, all class D felonies in Kentucky. If convicted, she could face one to five years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.
She appeared in court on September 2, pleaded not guilty, and was released on a $100,000 bond. Snelling is currently under house arrest at her parents’ home in Jefferson City, Tennessee, approximately 200 miles from Lexington.
The Fayette County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy, but the cause and manner of death remain inconclusive. A more detailed forensic examination, including microscopic analyses, is ongoing.
In social media posts from June, Snelling had included “motherhood” among her personal goals, using an emoji featuring a mother holding a baby—adding a layer of public scrutiny to the unfolding case.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for September 26.
