Ex-UK Cheerleader Charged After Newborn's Body Found in Closet

On August 30, 2024, Laken Snelling, a 21-year-old former University of Kentucky cheerleader, was arrested in Lexington, Kentucky, after police responded to a call about an infant found "cold to the touch" in her home. Snelling, who was a student majoring in Interdisciplinary Disability Studies and a three-year member of the university's STUNT competitive cheerleading team, admitted to giving birth alone and hiding the newborn's body in a trash bag inside her closet.

According to police reports, Snelling told investigators that she lost consciousness after the birth and woke up to find the baby "blue and purple." She claimed the newborn had made a "whimper," suggesting the child was alive at birth. Snelling's roommates had alerted the authorities after discovering a blood-covered towel and other signs of a recent delivery in her room.

Snelling has been charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. She pleaded not guilty and is currently under house arrest while awaiting her grand jury trial. The Fayette County Coroner's Office has ruled the baby's cause of death as inconclusive, stating that more tests are needed.

The investigation into this tragic case is ongoing, and the identity of the baby's father remains unknown. Snelling's case has drawn widespread attention on social media, with many expressing shock and sadness over the disturbing events.