A somber cloud has settled over the world of college athletics. Laken Snelling, a 21-year-old former University of Kentucky STUNT cheerleader, now faces serious charges. Authorities say she allegedly hid her deceased baby in a closet at her home in Lexington, Kentucky.
The story unfolded on August 27 when police rushed to Snelling’s Park Avenue residence. There, the infant was tragically pronounced dead. Snelling was taken into custody but later declared her innocence on three different charges. She’s now out on a $100,000 bond. For the time being, she’s under what’s called “home detention without electronic shackle,” staying with her parents in Tennessee.
The path to understanding what happened here is still unfolding. Lexington police are actively investigating. They’ve even reached out to the public, asking anyone with information to step forward and contact them. You can find more details about their plea on the official Lexington police website. Snelling’s preliminary hearing is set for September 26.
Who Is Laken Snelling?
Laken Snelling Courtesy of Laken Snelling/TikTok
Before these shocking headlines, Laken Snelling was a well-known member of the University of Kentucky’s STUNT cheer team. She spent three seasons with the squad. However, a university representative confirmed to Us Weekly on Friday, September 5, that Snelling is no longer a student or a part of the STUNT team. For those unfamiliar, USA Cheer explains that STUNT focuses on the “technical and athletic components of cheerleading.” This includes impressive partner stunts, pyramids, basket tosses, group jumps, and tumbling.
Snelling hails from White Pine, Tennessee. Beyond her cheerleading prowess, she also has a background in beauty pageants. She competed in the Jefferson County Fairest of the Fair 2023 contest. Her TikTok profile suggested she had a boyfriend until June, though his account now appears to be inactive.
The Charges She Faces
Snelling has pleaded not guilty to three specific charges. These include abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of a baby.
What Laken Snelling Reportedly Told Authorities
While Snelling has not made any public statements, her words to officers at the scene are part of the record. According to an arrest citation obtained by LEX 18 News, authorities claim Snelling admitted to giving birth to the baby. The citation also states she “admitted to concealing the birth by cleaning up any evidence.” This included placing all used cleaning items into a black trash bag. The baby, wrapped in a towel, was also reportedly put in the bag.
