Kentucky cheerleader told doctors infant was born alive, whimper heard before body hidden, records show
University of Kentucky student Laken Snelling faces charges after a newborn’s body was found in her closet; court filings describe a shift in her account.
New court records reveal that University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling told medical staff the infant may have been born alive and that it whimpered before she wrapped the newborn in a towel and placed the body in a trash bag hidden in her closet, according to documents filed in the case.
Snelling, 21, was arrested hours after giving birth at an off-campus house when a roommate reported hearing suspicious noises and found the body. Police say she initially told investigators she believed the baby was dead at birth.
According to the affidavit, Snelling later told staff at the University of Kentucky’s Labor and Delivery unit that the infant showed “a little bit of fetal movement” and that she guessed he was alive at birth after hearing a whimper, adding that she confronted the baby and then hid the evidence. The affidavit notes the baby appeared to be full-term when found. Court records also show Snelling had taken several photos while she was allegedly in labor and deleted them “in an attempt to hide the birth.”
In the weeks leading up to the birth, Snelling reportedly dressed as a pregnant mom for Halloween in 2024, a detail cited in court filings as investigators examined the events surrounding the birth and subsequent concealment.
Police say Snelling told roommates she had not been feeling well and planned to see a doctor, but they did not know she was pregnant. She reportedly left for class and returned to find police waiting at her residence, after her roommates pressed for answers about the noises they had heard overnight.
The newborn boy’s body was found after Snelling’s arrest, and investigators say the accused wrapped the infant in a towel, then stuffed the body into a trash bag before stashing it in her closet and cleaning up the area. Authorities described a chaotic sequence in which Snelling attempted to distance herself from the pregnancy or the birth in the hours after the infant’s death.
Snelling has pleaded not guilty to charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. She has withdrawn from the Lexington-area university and is no longer a member of the STUNT team.
The case has drawn attention to how universities address student health, pregnancy, and access to confidential medical resources on campus, underscoring the importance of health services and support networks for students facing unexpected pregnancies.
Authorities say the investigation remains active and no trial date has been set. As prosecutors pursue the case, legal observers note that the allegations touch on sensitive questions of personal health, ethics, and the responsibilities of guardianship and care in a university setting.