A former University of Kentucky cheerleader broke down in court Friday as she pleaded guilty to killing her newborn son, admitting she smothered the infant before wrapping his remains in a towel and storing him inside a plastic bag in her closet.
Laken Snelling, 21, entered her plea before Fayette Circuit Court Judge Diane Minnifield during proceedings conducted via Zoom. The Tennessee native and former college athlete faces charges of first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.
Background
Court records show that on Aug. 27, 2025, Snelling gave birth to a baby boy at a residence on the 400 block of Park Avenue in Lexington, Kentucky — mere blocks from the University of Kentucky campus where she served as a cheerleader for the college. According to testimony and court documents reviewed by Law&Crime, Snelling's roommates reported hearing unusually loud noises emanating from her bedroom for approximately one hour that morning.
The sounds were so intense they reportedly knocked a picture off the wall. When Snelling departed to purchase food at a McDonald's location, telling her housemates she had passed out due to hunger, the roommates investigated the source of the disturbance.
They discovered a blood-soaked towel on the floor and a plastic bag containing evidence of childbirth. After searching further, they located the deceased newborn inside bags stored in Snelling's closet.
The Charges
Prosecutors have recommended a 10-year sentence for the first-degree manslaughter conviction, along with one-year sentences for each of the remaining three charges — abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. Investigators determined the child died from asphyxiation.
During Friday's proceedings, Snelling described her actions to Judge Minnifield in her own words.
"I was under a lot of emotional stress, and my baby came unexpectedly, and instead of helping him, I ended his life," Snelling said, her voice breaking. "And afterwards, I cleaned up and didn't tell anyone."
When pressed by the judge for specifics, Snelling acknowledged: "I deprived him of oxygen" before placing towels containing the remains into a plastic bag.
Investigators later reviewed Snelling's phone and social media activity, discovering pregnancy-related searches, photographs documenting labor, and other evidence indicating she had concealed her pregnancy. Medical personnel at the university told investigators that Snelling reported her baby displayed "a little bit of fetal movement" upon delivery and made what she described as a "whimper." She told staff she "guessed" the infant was alive.
When police initially questioned Snelling, she claimed she had given birth and then accidentally fallen asleep on top of the baby. Upon waking, she said she found the child "turning blue and purple." She reportedly believed he was already dead and wrapped him "like a burrito," placing the bundle beside her because it "gave her a little comfort."
Key Takeaways
- Snelling, 21, was a cheerleader for the University of Kentucky before her arrest in connection with her newborn son's death
- She admitted to depriving the infant of oxygen after giving birth unexpectedly on Aug. 27, 2025
- Roommates discovered the deceased baby after investigating loud noises and finding evidence of childbirth in the residence
- The child was later determined to have died from asphyxiation
- Snelling pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and three additional charges including abuse of a corpse
- Prosecutors recommended a 10-year sentence for the manslaughter conviction, with one year each for remaining counts
What's Next
Snelling is scheduled to appear before Judge Minnifield on Oct. 16 for formal sentencing. The court will determine whether to follow prosecutors' sentencing recommendations or impose different penalties. Snelling remains free on bond pending her sentencing hearing.