LEXINGTON, KY – A University of Kentucky student faces multiple charges after police discovered the body of her deceased infant concealed inside a bedroom closet, authorities announced Monday.
Laken Snelling, 21, was arrested Sunday following an investigation that began when officers responded to a call about an unresponsive infant at a residence on Park Avenue near the campus. The discovery has shaken the university community where Snelling was known as a member of the competitive STUNT team.
According to police documents, investigators found the infant’s body wrapped in a towel and placed inside a black trash bag that had been hidden in a closet. The grim discovery came after officers were dispatched to the home earlier last week on reports of the unresponsive child.
“When officers arrived, they located an infant that was pronounced deceased at the scene,” the Lexington Police Department said in a statement. The Fayette County Coroner’s Office will determine the official cause of death, though no timeline has been provided for those results.
During questioning, Snelling admitted to giving birth to the child, according to police reports. The revelation prompted investigators to charge her with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. Each charge carries significant penalties under Kentucky law.
The case has drawn attention to the university’s athletic programs, where Snelling competed as part of the STUNT team. The sport, described by UK Athletics as focusing on “technical and athletic aspects of cheer,” involves head-to-head competitions between teams and has grown rapidly in popularity among college women.
University officials confirmed Snelling’s enrollment as a senior and her participation on the team, though they declined to comment further on the ongoing investigation. Her name remains listed on the team’s official roster despite the serious charges.
The suspect was released from custody after posting a $100,000 bond, according to court filings. As part of her release conditions, she’s been placed under home incarceration but without electronic monitoring, an unusual arrangement that’s sparked questions about the case’s handling.
The Lexington Police Department’s Special Victims Section continues investigating the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death. Detectives haven’t disclosed whether they’re exploring potential motives or if additional charges might be filed pending the coroner’s findings.
The case highlights broader issues around college students facing unplanned pregnancies and the resources available to them. Kentucky law requires the reporting of infant deaths and provides legal protections for parents who surrender newborns at safe locations.
