On the morning of Wednesday, August 27, 2025, a distressing discovery in a quiet Lexington neighborhood sent shockwaves through the University of Kentucky community and beyond. Police were dispatched to a residence on the 400 block of Park Avenue after a report of an unresponsive infant. When officers arrived, they found a newborn baby, wrapped in a towel inside a black trash bag, hidden in a closet. The infant was pronounced dead at the scene, and the Fayette County Coroner’s Office was called in to determine the cause of death, a question that, as of September 1, still remains unanswered.
The mother, 21-year-old Laken Snelling, was quickly identified by authorities. Snelling, a senior at the University of Kentucky and a member of the school’s competitive STUNT cheerleading team, was arrested four days later on Sunday, August 31. The charges are grave: abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. According to the arrest citation, Snelling admitted to giving birth in the home and to cleaning up the evidence of her delivery, including placing all cleaning items and the infant, wrapped in a towel, into a black trash bag before hiding it in the closet.
As reported by Fox News, the Lexington Police Department confirmed, “When officers arrived, they located an infant that was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Fayette County Coroner’s Office will release the infant’s cause of death.” The department’s Special Victims Section is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death. The case has gripped local and national media, with The Guardian and WLEX both reporting on the details of Snelling’s arrest and the ongoing investigation.
Snelling’s background quickly came into focus as the story developed. According to the official University of Kentucky athletics website and statements from the university, Snelling has been a member of the STUNT team for the past three seasons. The competitive cheerleading sport emphasizes technical skill and athleticism, and Snelling was well-known among her peers. She is originally from White Pine, Tennessee, and attended Jefferson County High School before enrolling at the University of Kentucky to study Interdisciplinary Disability Studies.
In the months leading up to the incident, Snelling appeared to be an active participant in campus life and on social media. On June 25, 2025, she posted a TikTok video stating that becoming a mother was one of her life goals, alongside getting married and owning a home. The video has since been flooded with comments following news of her arrest, with many expressing disbelief and others pointing out the lack of options in Kentucky for women facing unwanted pregnancies.
The legal consequences facing Snelling are significant. Under Kentucky law, both abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence are classified as class D felonies, each carrying potential penalties of one to five years in prison and fines up to $10,000. Concealing the birth of an infant is also a serious charge under state law. After her arrest, Snelling was booked into the Fayette County Detention Center but was later released on a $100,000 bond, as confirmed by WSMV and WLWT. Court documents indicate she is now on home incarceration without an ankle monitor and is required to live with her parents. Snelling has entered a not guilty plea and is scheduled to appear in court on September 26, 2025.
The case has unfolded under the shadow of Kentucky’s near-total abortion ban, which has been in effect since July 2022. The law prohibits abortions in almost all circumstances, with exceptions only if the procedure is necessary to prevent a “substantial risk of death” or to avert “serious, permanent impairment of a life-sustaining organ” for the pregnant individual. Notably, there are no exceptions for cases of rape or incest. This legal context has fueled public debate, as some social media users and commentators have noted that, while abortion is illegal, Kentucky does offer safe haven laws allowing parents to legally and anonymously surrender newborns at designated locations, such as hospitals and fire stations.
University officials have mostly remained silent, citing the ongoing investigation. Jay Blanton, a spokesperson for the University of Kentucky, confirmed Snelling’s enrollment and position on the STUNT team but declined further comment. “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,” the university stated to LEX 18.
The discovery of the infant’s body and Snelling’s subsequent arrest have raised difficult questions about the intersection of mental health, reproductive rights, and the pressures faced by young women in states with restrictive abortion laws. The case has also highlighted the resources—or lack thereof—available to women in crisis. In Kentucky, the near-total ban on abortion leaves few legal avenues for those who may be unable or unwilling to continue a pregnancy, except in the most extreme circumstances. Advocates for reproductive rights have pointed out that, while safe haven laws exist, they are not always well-publicized or understood by those who might need them most.
As the investigation continues, the Fayette County Coroner’s Office has yet to release the cause of death for the infant. The police have encouraged anyone with information about the case to contact the Lexington Police Department or submit anonymous tips to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers. The university community, meanwhile, has been left reeling, with many students and faculty expressing shock and sadness at the tragic events.
Snelling’s next court appearance, set for September 26, is expected to draw significant attention, as legal proceedings may shed more light on the circumstances leading up to the infant’s death and Snelling’s actions in its aftermath. For now, the case remains a somber reminder of the complexities and consequences surrounding reproductive health, legal restrictions, and the support systems available—or lacking—for young women in Kentucky.
The story continues to evolve as authorities seek answers, and a community grapples with the aftermath of an incident that has left more questions than answers.
