Laken Snelling, 21, Faces Charges After Newborn Found Dead in Lexington Residence

September 2, 2025

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A University of Kentucky senior and member of the university’s competitive STUNT team, Laken Snelling, 21, was arrested on August 31, 2025, in connection with the death of her newborn infant. The tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the university community and beyond, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding the case.

According to the Lexington Police Department, officers responded to a call around 10:30 a.m. on August 27 at a residence in the 400 block of Park Avenue, near the university campus, regarding an unresponsive infant. Upon arrival, authorities discovered the infant’s body wrapped in a towel inside a black trash bag, concealed in a closet. The infant was pronounced dead at the scene.

Snelling, identified as the infant’s mother, admitted to police that she had given birth and attempted to conceal the birth by cleaning up evidence and placing the infant’s body, along with cleaning materials, in the trash bag. She now faces charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.

Court records indicate that Snelling was released on a $100,000 bond and is currently under home incarceration without an ankle monitor, ordered to reside with her parents as she awaits trial. She pleaded not guilty during her arraignment hearing on September 2, 2025. The Fayette County Coroner’s Office is still investigating the infant’s cause of death, which has not yet been disclosed.

Snelling, originally from White Pine, Tennessee, has been a member of the University of Kentucky’s STUNT team, a competitive cheer program, for the past three seasons. The university issued a statement confirming her status as a student and team member but directed further inquiries to the Lexington Police Department.

The case has sparked widespread discussion, particularly in light of Kentucky’s near-total abortion ban, in effect since 2022, which limits reproductive options for women in the state. Social media platforms, including TikTok, where Snelling had over 7,700 followers, have seen an outpouring of reactions, with some users expressing outrage and others pointing to the lack of safe, legal options like baby boxes or adoption services in the area.

The Lexington Police Department’s Special Victims Section is continuing its investigation. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact them at (859) 258-3600 or submit anonymous tips through Bluegrass Crime Stoppers at (859) 253-2020 or www.bluegrasscrimestoppers.com.

As the community grapples with this heartbreaking incident, the case underscores broader conversations about reproductive rights, mental health, and support systems for young women in crisis. Snelling’s next court appearance is pending, and the investigation remains ongoing.