The University of Kentucky has made a clear statement about Laken Snelling, the cheerleader whose arrest shook the campus. She is no longer a student at the university. This also means she’s off the STUNT cheerleading squad.
A spokesperson for the school told a prominent entertainment publication in an email on Friday, September 5th, that Snelling, 21, is no longer enrolled. This makes her ineligible to be part of the STUNT team. Snelling is currently under house arrest with her parents. She is in Lexington, Kentucky, and police say she is not wearing an electronic ankle monitor.
Her status on the university’s website was a bit confusing for a while. At the time of the publication, her name still appeared on the 2025 STUNT cheerleading roster online. However, STUNT is a spring sport, with competitions running from January to April. It is possible the team roster simply hasn’t been updated yet for the 2026 season. The Wildcats had a strong record last year, going 29-3, and finished as national runners-up for the third year in a row.
STUNT is a specific type of cheerleading. It focuses on the technical and athletic parts of cheer. This includes partner stunts, building pyramids, basket tosses, group jumps, and tumbling, according to the USA Cheer website. Besides being a team member for three years, Snelling was also studying Interdisciplinary Disability Studies at the University of Kentucky, as noted on her Facebook page.
Snelling was arrested on August 30th. She faces charges of abusing a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing a baby’s birth. Authorities found her newborn baby dead in her closet. She pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released after posting a $100,000 bond. Her first court hearing is set for September 26th.
Police reports, obtained by LEX 18 News, stated that the baby was “wrapped in a towel inside a black trash bag.” During police questioning, Snelling admitted to giving birth to the baby. She also said she “concealed the birth by cleaning up any evidence, placing all used cleaning products inside a black trash bag, including the baby, who was wrapped in a towel.” The investigation into the tragic event is still ongoing.
After her arrest, the university released a statement confirming her past involvement. They said she had been a member of the STUNT team for the past three seasons. The university directed all other questions to the Lexington Police Department.
The autopsy performed on the infant did not determine the cause of death. A report from the Fayette County Coroner’s Office, obtained by a major entertainment publication on Thursday, September 4th, indicated that “extensive microscopic analyses are essential to determine the cause and manner of death.” Coroner Gary Ginn addressed the community’s concern in the report. He stated, “I understand the community’s concern and sensitivity regarding the death of a child.” He added, “We are conducting a thorough and methodical investigation to ensure all facts are carefully considered.”