Who is Laken Snelling? University of Kentucky student arrested after cops find her newborn baby dead inside trash bag

University of Kentucky student Laken Snelling, 21, was arrested after a baby she gave birth to was found dead, stuffed inside a trash bag tossed in a closet.

Published on: Sep 2, 2025, 08:04:31 IST

By Sumanti Sen

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A University of Kentucky student has been arrested after an infant she gave birth to was found dead, stuffed inside a garbage bag tossed in a closet. 21-year-old Laken Snelling was arrested on Sunday, August 31, after police were called about an unresponsive infant at a residence near campus grounds in Lexington, the New York Post reported.

A police report obtained by WLWT claimed that cops found the baby “wrapped in a towel inside of a black trash bag,” in a closet. The infant was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. Snelling was confirmed to be the baby’s mother.

Who is Laken Snelling?

Snelling, a student at the University of Kentucky, is also a competitive cheerleader. She competed on the university's competitive cheerleading stunt team for three years, People reported. Snelling is originally from White Pine, Tennessee, where she attended Jefferson County High School, according to an official team roster.

“We can confirm that she has been a member of the STUNT team for the last three seasons. All other questions should be directed to the Lexington Police," the university said in a statement obtained by The Independent.

Police confirmed that Snelling is the baby’s mother, and that she "admitted to giving birth." The Fayette County Coroner’s Office will be determining the baby’s official cause of death.

“Laken Snelling, 21, was arrested on August 31, 2025, and charged with Abuse of a Corpse, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Concealing the Birth of an Infant. She is currently being held at the Fayette County Detention Center,” the Lexington Police Department said in a statement.

The case is under investigation by the department’s Special Victims Section. Anyone with information about the case has been urged to call Lexington Police at (859) 258-3600. One can also submit anonymous tips to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers by calling (859) 253-2020 or online at www.bluegrasscrimestoppers.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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