A grim discovery led to the arrest of a University of Kentucky cheerleader this past weekend. A baby was found dead in a closet within her home, sending shockwaves through the community.
Laken Snelling, a 21-year-old student athlete, was taken into custody on Saturday, August 30. Police charged her with several serious offenses. These include “abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of a baby.” This information came from a Lexington Police Department report, which was shared by LEX 18 News.
Police officers first responded to a call at the home on Wednesday, August 27. They were there to check on a baby who was not responding. According to an arrest citation also seen by LEX 18 News, officers found the infant. The baby was “wrapped in a towel inside a black trash bag.”
At the scene, officers spoke with Snelling. She admitted to them that she had given birth. The citation further detailed her admissions. Snelling also confessed to hiding the birth. She cleaned up evidence and put all the cleaning items into a black trash bag. The baby, wrapped in a towel, was also placed inside that bag.
Snelling was released on a $100,000 bond on Tuesday, September 2. She is now under “house arrest without an electronic ankle monitor.” Court documents, again obtained by LEX 18 News, show she is living with her parents. Their home is in Jefferson City, Tennessee, about 200 miles from where she was arrested in Kentucky.
The Fayette County Coroner’s Office will investigate to determine the exact cause of the baby’s death. The Lexington Police Department stated on its website that the investigation is ongoing. They are urging anyone with information to come forward and contact them.
Snelling, originally from White Pine, Tennessee, is still listed on the University of Kentucky STUNT team roster. STUNT, according to USA Cheer, is a rapidly growing female sport. It focuses on the athletic parts of cheerleading, like partner stunts, pyramids, and tumbling. The university released a short statement: “We can confirm that she has been a member of the STUNT team for the past three seasons. All other questions should be directed to Lexington police.”
Despite the serious charges, Snelling still has an active TikTok account. She boasts nearly 9,000 followers there. Her last post was on June 25, where she chatted with followers about her favorite season, birth month, and future hopes. Earlier that month, she shared photos from a “couple’s photoshoot” with a man believed to be her boyfriend. It is not clear if this man is connected to Snelling’s pregnancy. She also posted a TikTok video of herself with the same man attending a Megan Moroney concert back in April.