University of Kentucky Cheerleader Charged After Newborn Found in Closet

Laken Snelling, a University of Kentucky cheerleader, was arrested after authorities found a newborn baby boy wrapped in a towel inside a black trash bag in a closet at her off-campus residence in Lexington, Kentucky. Snelling, who admitted to giving birth, faces charges including abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. DNA testing is underway on Snelling's ex-boyfriend, Izaiah Hall, a college quarterback, to determine if he is the father of the baby. The Fayette County Coroner's Office announced that the cause of the infant's death remains inconclusive pending further tests. Snelling had previously posted social media content hinting at motherhood and family goals before her arrest. The case unfolds amid Kentucky's nearly total abortion ban since 2022, and investigations continue as authorities seek more information.