Former Kentucky Cheerleader Arrested After Newborn Found Dead

Laken Snelling, a 21-year-old former University of Kentucky competitive cheerleader, was arrested after authorities found her newborn baby deceased inside a closet in her Lexington apartment, wrapped in a towel and placed in a trash bag. Police were called on August 27, 2025, and Snelling was charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant, to which she pleaded not guilty. The Fayette County Coroner's Office reported that the baby’s autopsy was inconclusive, with further testing underway, and prosecutors indicated that homicide charges could be added depending on results. Snelling was released on $100,000 bond and is now under home incarceration with her parents in Tennessee, no longer enrolled or participating in university activities. Prior to the incident, Snelling had competed in the 2025 STUNT National Championship and was active on the cheer team for three seasons, with speculation arising from past videos about her pregnancy. The investigation remains ongoing, including reviews of phone records and DNA testing to confirm the baby’s paternity.