What was the cause of the infant's death?

The infant's cause of death was ruled to be asphyxia by undetermined means by the Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office.

When are Laken Snelling's next court dates?

A pretrial conference is scheduled for May 14, 2026, and a status hearing is scheduled for June 12, 2026.

Home / Crime and Justice / Ex-UK Cheerleader Pleads Not Guilty in Infant Death Case

Ex-UK Cheerleader Pleads Not Guilty in Infant Death Case

Q: What charges does Laken Snelling face?

Laken Snelling faces charges of first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.

10 Apr

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Summary

Former UK cheerleader Laken Snelling pleaded not guilty to charges.
She is accused of hiding her newborn baby's body in a closet.
The infant's cause of death was ruled asphyxia by undetermined means.

Ex-UK Cheerleader Pleads Not Guilty in Infant Death Case

Former University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling appeared in a Lexington courtroom on Friday, April 10, 2026, to enter a not guilty plea. She was indicted in March 2026 on charges of first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.

Snelling allegedly gave birth in August 2025 and hid her newborn baby's body in a closet in her Lexington home. The Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office ruled the infant's cause of death as asphyxia by undetermined means. First-degree manslaughter, a Class B felony in Kentucky, carries a penalty of 10 to 20 years in prison.