Former Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling indicted for newborn's death by 'asphyxia'

A grand jury in Kentucky has voted to indict former University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling, whose newborn baby was found dead in a trash bag in her closet, on multiple charges that could result in a sentence of 10-20 years in prison.

Key Takeaways:

• A grand jury has voted to indict Laken Snelling, who is facing multiple charges, including manslaughter in the first degree, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.

• Snelling was arrested in August following the discovery of a deceased newborn inside her closet. She told police she didn't believe the baby was alive when he was born, but told medical staff that the baby boy had whimpered and made movements.

• An autopsy determined that the baby had been born alive, with the cause of death listed as "asphyxia by undetermined means."

• She faces the possibility of 10-20 years in prison.

• Snelling is currently in Tennessee with her father, and it is unclear when she will return to Kentucky for formal indictment.

The Details:

Laken Snelling, 22, faces multiple charges, including manslaughter in the first degree, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. A new arrest warrant was issued on Wednesday, and she is facing 10 to 20 years in prison.

Indictment documents obtained by the Lexington Herald Leader state that the grand jury determined Snelling committed manslaughter with the intent to cause serious physical injury to her baby boy.

PEOPLE noted the baby's cause of death:

The grand jury arrived at this decision after hearing that Snelling's infant had been born alive, according to the LPD [Lexington Police Department].

That baby was found wrapped in a towel and stuffed into a trash bag that had been stashed away in the closet of Snelling's room, according to police.

The LPD also revealed that an autopsy report determined the infant's cause of death to be "asphyxia by undetermined means."

Arrest warrant issued for Laken Snelling

The jury wrote, "She intentionally abused the infant and thereby caused death to a person twelve (12) years of age or less, or who is physically helpless or mentally helpless."

She is not charged with murder, the grand jury explained, because she acted under "extreme emotional disturbance" — meaning they didn't feel that Snelling had reasonable self-control.

The Backstory:

As previously reported by Live Action News, police in Lexington were called to a residence near the University of Kentucky campus on August 27, 2025, where they found a deceased baby boy "wrapped in a towel inside a black trash bag." Snelling was not at the home at the time.

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Concerned roommates of Snelling contacted authorities after they found blood in her room after hearing her make odd noises earlier that day.

According to WKYT, on August 31, police arrested Snelling in connection with the baby's death. She "was taken to police headquarters, then later to UK hospital, where she told staff the baby displayed some fetal movement, including a 'whimper.'" (WKYT mislabeled the baby's movements as "fetal" when he was a newborn infant, not a child still in the womb.)

WKYT reported:

"The affidavit we obtained says Snelling told police she gave birth. At that time, she said she didn’t believe the baby was alive. Snelling said she later passed out, falling on top of the baby, and when she woke up, the baby turned blue and purple. 

At that time, the affidavit says Snelling believed the baby was dead, wrapped him up and lay next to him on the floor; something she said gave her comfort in the moment."

Snelling's phone reportedly also showed evidence that she had searched "concealed or hidden pregnancy," and there were photos of her during labor, which were deleted. Police reportedly believe “other items could have also been deleted in an attempt to hide any evidence of the pregnancy, birth and newborn baby.”

About two weeks after this event, in September 2025, at least one pro-abortion influencer claimed that Snelling was being "smeared" online for what might have been the death of a mere "fetus." She added, "... you can't trust cops, especially not on a case like this, especially not in post-Roe America, especially not in an anti-abortion state. It is obscene. This young woman has had her name smeared."

What's Happening Now:

It is unclear when Snelling will be brought back to Kentucky to be formally indicted, reported PEOPLE. She is currently on pre-trial release at her father's home in Tennessee.