Lexington, KY (September 3, 2025) — A University of Kentucky student and athlete, 21-year-old Laken Ashlee Snelling—a senior member of the UK STUNT cheer team—has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of her newborn, authorities say.
Allegations and Legal Proceedings
Lexington police were called to a Park Avenue residence on August 27 after they discovered the unresponsive body of an infant hidden in a closet, wrapped in a towel inside a black trash bag. Snelling admitted to giving birth and attempting to conceal both the infant and evidence of the birth, according to arrest documents.
Snelling faces three Class D felony charges:
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Concealing the birth of an infant
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Tampering with physical evidence
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Abuse of a corpse
Each charge carries potential penalties of 1 to 5 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
At her first court appearance on September 2, Snelling pleaded not guilty and was released on a $100,000 bond, with the court ordering her to live under house arrest at her parents’ home in Tennessee. Her next hearing is scheduled for September 26.
A preliminary autopsy by the Fayette County Coroner’s Office revealed that the infant was a boy, but the cause of death remains inconclusive. Officials confirmed that a thorough death investigation is ongoing.
Context: Kentucky’s Near-Total Abortion Ban
Kentucky currently enforces one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion laws. Since August 1, 2022, the state’s trigger law has rendered abortion completely illegal, except when necessary to prevent the pregnant individual’s death or permanent impairment of a major, life-sustaining bodily function. No exceptions are made for rape, incest, or fetal abnormalities.
Attempts to challenge the ban have largely failed. A 2024 lawsuit disputing the near-total prohibition was voluntarily dismissed earlier this year, and the law remains firmly in place. Additionally, a constitutional amendment that would have explicitly declared that Kentucky's state constitution does not protect abortion rights was rejected by voters in November 2022.
Public Reaction and Additional Details
Snelling, originally from White Pine, Tennessee, had built a public persona that included cheerleading and pageant appearances. Months earlier, she had posted on TikTok expressing a desire for motherhood—listing “having babies” among her life goals. Viral maternity-style photos—later removed from her social media—have intensified public scrutiny.
A Broader National Context
Snelling’s case arises within a wider national conversation about the legal and societal implications of criminal investigations following pregnancy outcomes. Since the repeal of federal protections for abortion rights, concerns have grown that miscarriages, stillbirths, or even self-managed abortions may now be subject to legal scrutiny—raising fears about reproductive autonomy and medical privacy.
Sources
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The Guardian: University of Kentucky athlete charged after dead infant found hidden in closet (Sept. 2, 2025)
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People: Univ. of Kentucky STUNT Team Member Arrested After Allegedly Hiding Dead Newborn in Her Closet (Sept. 2, 2025)
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TurnTo10: University of Kentucky athlete pleads not guilty to hiding newborn in closet (Sept. 2, 2025)
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WWNYTV: College student pleads not guilty after dead infant found in closet (Sept. 3, 2025)
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The Sun (UK): Laken Snelling cheerleader baby case (Sept. 2, 2025)
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WKYT: Fayette County coroner releases autopsy results after infant found in closet (Sept. 3, 2025)
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AP News: Kentucky abortion law lawsuit dismissed (2024)
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Wikipedia: Abortion in Kentucky (updated 2025); 2022 Kentucky Amendment 2
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New York Post: Kentucky cheerleader who hid newborn had listed “having babies” as life goal (Sept. 2, 2025)
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Fox News: Kentucky athlete once posted about wanting babies (Sept. 2, 2025)
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India Times: Viral maternity photos of Kentucky student after newborn death case (Sept. 2, 2025)
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Vox: How abortion bans create confusion and surveillance risks (2025)
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