Kentucky Cheerleader Laken Snelling Case: Infant Death Ruled Inconclusive Pending Further Testing
The forensic examination findings pertaining to the infant discovered deceased within the closet of University of Kentucky competitive cheerleader, Laken Snelling, have now been made public.
The preliminary assessment of the infant's passing has yielded an inconclusive determination, with the Fayette County Coroner’s Office report – exclusively obtained by Us Weekly on Thursday, September 4 – stating that "comprehensive microscopic analyses are imperative to ascertain the precise cause and circumstances of death.”
In the aforementioned report, Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn conveyed, “I am cognizant of the public’s apprehension and the profound sensitivity surrounding the tragic loss of a child. Our office is diligently pursuing a comprehensive and systematic death investigation to guarantee that every relevant detail is meticulously examined.”
Ms. Snelling, 21 years old, was taken into custody on Saturday, August 30, facing allegations of Abuse of a Corpse, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Concealing the Birth of an Infant.
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As a senior member of the University of Kentucky’s esteemed STUNT cheerleading team, Snelling entered a plea of not guilty to all counts during her court appearance in Lexington, Kentucky, on Tuesday, September 2.
Subsequently, the cheerleader was granted release on a $100,000 bond, and is presently residing under "home incarceration without an ankle monitor" alongside her parents in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
Law enforcement officials were summoned to Snelling’s Lexington residence on August 27, following a report concerning an unresponsive infant.
An arrest citation procured by LEX 18 News indicates that the “infant was discovered enveloped in a towel within a black trash bag.”
During her interview with authorities at the scene, Snelling reportedly “acknowledged giving birth” and “admitted to concealing the birth by meticulously cleaning any evidence, then placing all used cleaning items into a black trash bag, which also contained the infant, wrapped in a towel.”
The Lexington Police Department affirmed that they are “actively continuing their investigation” into the infant’s tragic death.
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Hailing from White Pine, Tennessee, Snelling held a distinguished position as a decorated member of the University of Kentucky’s STUNT team, a discipline, according to USA Cheer, that concentrates on “the intricate technical and athletic facets of cheerleading, encompassing partner stunts, pyramids, basket tosses, group jumps, and tumbling.”
In an official statement, the university affirmed, “We can verify her membership on the STUNT team for the preceding three seasons. All further inquiries should be addressed to the Lexington Police Department.”
Beyond her involvement with the STUNT team, Snelling was pursuing a major in Interdisciplinary Disability Studies at the University of Kentucky, as indicated by her public Facebook profile.
Snelling’s initial court hearing is currently slated for September 26.
