US EditionGrand jury indicts former University of Kentucky student in death of infant son
Laken Snelling faces first-degree manslaughter and related charges after her newborn son died of asphyxia; the infant was found dead in her Lexington home last August.
- On Tuesday, a Fayette County grand jury indicted former University of Kentucky student Laken Snelling on a first-degree manslaughter charge, adding to existing charges related to her newborn son's death last August.
- Lexington Police discovered the infant unresponsive in a trash bag in Snelling's closet on August 27, 2025; the Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office later determined the child was born alive and died of asphyxia.
- According to affidavits, Snelling claimed the baby fell and she passed out on top of him, though she told hospital staff she heard the newborn "whimper" and "guessed" he was alive.
- Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney Kimberly Baird said the grand jury reviewed homicide evidence and decided manslaughter was the appropriate charge, carrying a potential sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison.
- Following her initial arrest, Snelling withdrew from the university and remains on house arrest in Tennessee after posting a $100,000 bond, with her next court appearance expected within two to three weeks.
27 Articles
27 Articles
The Advocate-Messenger
Grand jury adds manslaughter charge in newborn's death case
Lexington, Ky. (KT) – A former University of Kentucky athlete who was already facing several charges after allegedly giving birth to a child and putting it into a garbage bag at her home, has been indicted for manslaughter by a Fayette County grand jury. 21-year-old Laken Snelling, who had been a member of the UK STUNT team, a competitive cheer program, was arrested previously and charged with Abuse of a Corpse, Tampering with Physical Evidence,…
Kentucky Cheerleader Indicted for Manslaughter After Hiding Baby in Closet
Former University of Kentucky competitive cheerleader Laken Snelling has been indicted for manslaughter after it was determined her baby was born alive before she allegedly hid the body in a trash bag last year. Snelling was indicted by a grand jury on charges of first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant on Tuesday, March 10. The manslaughter charge was added after testi…
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