University of Kentucky Student Arrested After Dead Infant Found in Closet

Laken Snelling, a 21-year-old University of Kentucky senior and member of the competitive STUNT cheerleading team, was arrested after the body of her newborn infant was found wrapped in a towel inside a black trash bag in her closet. Police responded to a report of an unresponsive infant at a residence near campus, where the infant was pronounced dead at the scene. Snelling admitted to giving birth and now faces charges including abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. The Fayette County Coroner’s Office will determine the official cause of the infant's death. The university confirmed Snelling's team affiliation but deferred further comment to police, while the Lexington Police Department continues its investigation. This case has shocked the campus community amid Kentucky's near-total abortion ban in effect since 2022.