A 21-year-old University of Kentucky student and competitive cheerleader, Laken Snelling, was taken into custody after the discovery of her newborn’s body in a trash bag hidden in a closet, as per law enforcement and media reports. The arrest occurred on Sunday when police responded to a call about an unresponsive infant at a residence close to the university campus in Lexington, as stated by the Lexington Police Department.
Upon arrival, officers discovered the infant concealed in a towel and placed inside a black garbage bag in a closet, as per a police report. Snelling, who is a member of the University of Kentucky’s STUNT cheerleading team, was confirmed to be the mother of the deceased newborn, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
During her interaction with the police, Snelling confessed to having given birth, as reported by Lex18, citing the police report. The young woman now faces charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.
The incident comes at a time when almost all abortions have been declared illegal in the state since 2022. Snelling, a senior at the university, has been a part of the competitive cheerleading team for the past three seasons, as per the school’s athletics website.
The university spokesperson confirmed Snelling’s participation in the STUNT team for the last three seasons, directing all other inquiries to the Lexington Police. Snelling is currently being held at the Fayette County Detention Center, according to records.
The cause of the infant’s death is still under investigation by the Fayette County Coroner’s Office. The University of Kentucky had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting.