Lexington, Kentucky, September 23, 2025
News Summary
Laken Snelling, a 21-year-old former University of Kentucky cheerleader, has been arrested after the tragic discovery of her deceased newborn, found concealed in her off-campus home. Emergency responders reported that the infant appeared cold to the touch, indicating he had been dead for several hours before the 911 call. Snelling faces multiple charges, including abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. Following her release on bond, she has been placed under house arrest while the investigation continues to unfold.
Lexington, Kentucky – Laken Snelling, a 21-year-old former cheerleader for the University of Kentucky, was arrested on August 31 following the tragic discovery of her dead newborn, a baby boy, found hidden in her off-campus residence. The infant was discovered on August 27, wrapped in a towel and placed inside a black trash bag located in a closet of her home on Park Avenue.
The circumstances surrounding the child’s death have shocked the community and raised numerous questions. At approximately 10:34 a.m. on August 27, a 911 call was made reporting the grim finding, with the caller stating that the baby was “cold to the touch.” Emergency responders indicated that the newborn had been deceased for a minimum of three to four hours before the 911 call was made, suggesting the infant had died several hours prior given the temperature of the body in accordance with medical guidelines regarding post-mortem cooling…