Former Cheerleader Pleads Guilty in Newborn’s Death
Laken Snelling, a former cheerleader for the University of Kentucky, has entered a guilty plea regarding the death of her newborn son, whose body was discovered in a closet at her residence.
In a court session on Friday, Snelling admitted to charges including first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant, as reported by the Lexington Herald-Leader.
According to WKRC-TV, the prosecution has suggested a 10-year prison sentence for the manslaughter charge, with a one-year sentence for each of the additional three charges. The judge may choose whether to apply the sentences concurrently or consecutively.
A grand jury in Fayette County indicted Snelling back in March. Initially, in April, she had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Details from police describe that officers were called to Snelling’s home on the morning of August 27, 2025, due to a report of a “deceased infant.” Upon their arrival, they found the infant’s remains encased in a trash bag located within a closet.
In a group chat on Snapchat involving her roommates, there were discussions about peculiar sounds heard on the morning of August 27. One roommate mentioned around 4 a.m. that a loud noise resembling a fall had been heard.
Another roommate corroborated this, stating the noise was substantial enough to dislodge a picture from the wall. It was noted that these unusual sounds persisted for about an hour.
Prior to 9 a.m. on that same day, Snelling informed the group chat that the noise had been caused by her fainting. She later communicated that she had been unwell and intended to seek medical attention.
Reportedly, her roommates discovered a blood-stained towel on the floor and a plastic bag containing signs of childbirth in Snelling’s room.
Previously, Snelling claimed to police that she gave birth around 4 a.m. on August 27, but had stated that the baby “fell onto the floor of her bedroom.” The affidavit details that she expressed disbelief that the baby boy was breathing or alive, fainting about 30 minutes afterward.
Upon regaining consciousness, Snelling recounted getting up quickly and witnessing the baby turning blue and purple, leading her to believe he was dead. She wrapped the baby in a towel and lay next to him on the floor, seeking comfort.
The arrest report noted that Snelling admitted to concealing the birth and cleaning up any evidence, placing everything—including the wrapped infant—into a black trash bag.
Snelling, who left the University of Kentucky after her arrest, garnered attention as a member of the university’s STUNT team.
The Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office has established that the baby was born alive, while indicating asphyxia as the cause of death by indeterminate means.
Recently, Snelling made a significant confession in court regarding the death of her child. “I was under a lot of emotional stress, and my baby came unexpectedly. And instead of helping him, I ended his life. And afterwards, I cleaned up and didn’t tell anyone,” she tearfully revealed to Judge Diane Minnifield during the hearing.
Addressing the judge, Snelling acknowledged, “I ended his life,” and upon being queried about how this was done, she admitted to having “deprived him of oxygen.”
When asked about the charge of tampering with physical evidence, she explained, “I put the towels in a plastic bag.” Furthermore, she noted concerning the concealment of the birth, “I didn’t tell anyone afterward.”
Commonwealth’s Attorney Kimberly Henderson Baird described the situation as “very tragic” and expressed regret that it couldn’t be rectified. She added, “I think she has a great deal of remorse.” Snelling’s upcoming court date for sentencing is set for October 16.
