A University of Kentucky student and competitive cheerleader was arrested after the body of her newborn was found stuffed inside a garbage bag tossed in a closet, according to authorities and reports.
Laken Snelling, 21, was cuffed Sunday after cops were called about an unresponsive baby at a residence near campus grounds in Lexington, the Lexington Police Department said in a statement.
Officers found the infant “wrapped in a towel inside of a black trash bag” in a closet, according to a police report obtained by WLWT.
Laken Snelling, 21, was arrested Sunday after cops were called about an unresponsive infant at a residence near campus grounds in Lexington. Fayette County Detention Center
Snelling is listed as a member of the University of Kentucky’s STUNT cheerleading team. Facebook/Laken SnellingSnelling was confirmed to be the baby’s mother. The newborn was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
The cheerleader was interviewed by officers and “admitted to giving birth,” Lex18 reported, citing the police report.
The new mother has been charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant, cops said.
Nearly all abortions have been illegal in the state since 2022.
Snelling is listed as a member of the University of Kentucky’s STUNT cheerleading team, according to the school’s athletics website.
She is a senior at the university and has served on the competitive team for the past three seasons, according to Lex18.
Here’s the latest on the college cheerleader whose newborn was found dead
- Ex-University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling whose newborn was found dead in trash bag indicted for manslaughter, autopsy shows baby was born alive
- University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling heard baby ‘whimper’ before hiding newborn in closet: docs
- Cheerleader arrested after her baby is found dead ‘inside of a black trash bag’ in closet
- College cheerleader, whose newborn was found dead in trash bag, drops out of school
- Cheerleader’s ex-boyfriend provides DNA sample to cops after her newborn is found dead in trash bag
Snelling was also Jefferson County’s “fairest of the fair.” Facebook/Jefferson County Fairest of the Fair
The cheerleader has been charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. UK Athletics“We can confirm that she has been a member of the STUNT team for the last three seasons. All other questions should be directed to the Lexington Police,” a university spokesperson told the outlet.
Snelling is being held at the Fayette County Detention Center, records show.
The cause of the infant’s death is pending review by the Fayette County Coroner’s Office, police said.
The University of Kentucky did not respond to The Post’s request for comment by the time of publication.
