Kentucky Cheerleader Arrested for Allegedly Hiding Deceased Infant After Sharing Future Family Dreams
Prior to her arrest for reportedly concealing her deceased infant in a wardrobe, University of Kentucky competitive cheerleader Laken Snelling envisioned a future with children.
On June 25, the 21-year-old Snelling shared a TikTok video where she outlined her aspirations using emojis.
Her social media post featured symbols representing a mother with a child, an engagement ring, a four-person family, a home, and financial prosperity.
Earlier, on June 18, the cheerleader had uploaded another TikTok video displaying a recent "couples photoshoot" with her partner.
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In April, Snelling and the same individual were featured in another TikTok video she shared, captured before they went to a Megan Moroney performance.
The current relationship status of the man in the videos with Snelling, or any potential involvement he might have in the infant's death, remains uncertain.
On Saturday, August 30, Snelling was taken into custody and faced charges including Abuse of a Corpse, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Concealing the Birth of an Infant.
Law enforcement officials responded to Snelling's Lexington residence on August 27, following a report concerning an infant who was not responsive.
An arrest citation states that the "infant was discovered ensconced in a towel within a black refuse bag."
During questioning by officials at the scene, Snelling "confessed to having given birth."
She further acknowledged "hiding the birth by cleaning up all evidence and placing all utilized cleaning materials into a black trash bag, along with the infant, who was enveloped in a towel."
At a court hearing in Lexington on Tuesday, September 2, Snelling entered a plea of not guilty to every accusation.
After posting $100,000 bail, Snelling is currently under "home incarceration without an ankle monitor" at her parents' residence in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
The infant's death was deemed to have an undetermined cause, with "comprehensive microscopic examinations crucial for ascertaining the cause and manner of death," as detailed in an autopsy report from the Fayette County Coroner’s Office acquired by Us Weekly on Thursday, September 4.
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“I recognize the public's apprehension and the delicate nature of a child's death,” Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn was quoted as saying in the report. “Our team is undertaking a comprehensive and systematic investigation into the death to ensure every detail is rigorously examined.”
The Lexington Police Department confirmed that their inquiry into the infant's passing is still "active."
For the last three seasons, Snelling was a member of the University of Kentucky’s STUNT cheerleading squad.
Her initial court appearance is slated for September 26.
