Who Is Laken Snelling? Ex-Kentucky Student-Athlete Indicted for Manslaughter After Her Newborn Was Found Dead in Closet

Laken Snelling, a former University of Kentucky student and cheerleading athlete, is facing a manslaughter charge after her newborn was found dead, wrapped in a towel and a black garbage bag.

Snelling then placed the newborn in the closet. She was arrested in 2025, but who exactly is Laken Snelling, and how was the newborn discovered in her closet?

Who is Laken Snelling?

Laken Snelling is a 22-year-old White Pine, Tennessee native, and was a former student at the University of Kentucky. She was also a member of the STUNT Team, a competitive cheerleading team at the university.

She also participated with her teammates in the collegiate National Championship against California Baptist University in Nashville, Tennessee, in April 2025.

Snelling maintained an active presence on TikTok, where she frequently posted videos documenting her university life and her relationship.

However, there are no recent updates regarding whether the pair are still together, nor has it been confirmed whether he is the father of the late infant.

The Discovery of her Dead Newborn

Snelling was arrested on 27 August 2025 after her dead infant was found in her closet, 'wrapped in a towel inside of a black trash bag.' The former cheerleader concealed the dead child after she believed that the baby had died.

The Lexington Police Department previously announced that she is charged with concealing the birth of an infant, tampering with physical evidence, and abuse of a corpse. Snelling has pleaded not guilty to these charges.

Around 4:00am on 27 August, one of Snelling's roommates sent a message on their group chat saying that she 'heard loud noises that sounded like something had fallen.' Two other roommates heard the noises too, with one saying it 'lasted for approximately an hour.'

Snelling claimed that the noises were a result of her passing out. 'She told the group she had not been feeling well and had not eaten and had fainted as a result. [Snelling] then informed the group chat she was going to be seen by a doctor,' the affidavit reads.

Afterwards, one of her roommates went into her room and found 'a blood-soaked towel on the floor' and 'a plastic bag containing evidence of child birth.'

The roommate also stated that they found the newborn child placed in bags in Snelling's closet.

During the investigation, one of her roommates said that they all 'had suspicions' that the cheerleader was pregnant, but they never confirmed it with her.

On the 22-year-old's phone, they also found 'several searches' about pregnancy and 'different hashtags for different weeks pregnant on Facebook.'

Laken Snelling Charged with Manslaughter

In addition to her existing charges, Snelling is now facing a count of first-degree manslaughter, following a recent indictment by a Fayette County grand jury on 10 March.

According to a court spokesperson, a warrant has been issued for her arrest, and she is scheduled for arraignment on April 10. Under Kentucky law, a first-degree manslaughter conviction carries a potential sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison.

Laken Snelling's Police Affidavit

USA TODAY reported that Snelling told the police she gave birth to a baby boy around 4:00am, 'which fell into the floor of her bedroom,' adding that she did not believe that the baby was breathing or alive. Snelling said that she passed out around 30 minutes later.

She 'quickly got up' when she woke up and saw 'the baby turning blue and purple,' court documents say.

According to the affidavits, Snelling was taken to UK Hospital for treatment, where she spoke to investigators. At the hospital, Snelling told medical staff that 'the baby had a little bit of fetal movement but passed out shortly after.' She also reportedly said the baby made a 'whimper' noise.

Snelling then wrapped the baby, whom she thought to be dead, like a burrito in a towel and 'laid next to it [on] the floor because it gave her a little comfort in the moment.'

Snelling woke up at 7:30am for class and went to the kitchen to get a black trash bag, where she placed the dead baby. She then cleaned the blood off her.

Snelling reportedly skipped class to sit in her car on campus, later driving to the university's student clinic but choosing not to go inside.