Kentucky Cheerleader Laken Snelling Indicted After Autopsy Finds Newborn Was Born Alive [WATCH]

A former University of Kentucky cheerleader has been indicted on a first-degree manslaughter charge after authorities determined that her newborn son was born alive before his death last year, as reported by The New York Post.

Laken Snelling, 21, was indicted Tuesday by a Fayette County grand jury following findings from the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office. According to WKYT, the autopsy determined the infant had been born alive and that the cause of death was asphyxia by undetermined means.

Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney Kimberly Baird confirmed that prosecutors presented the grand jury with several possible charges related to homicide before jurors made their decision.

Horrible:
Former University of Kentucky cheerleader, 21, indicted for manslaughter of newborn son who was found dead in closet.
The Kentucky ME Office found her baby was born alive and the cause of death was asphyxia.https://t.co/O7pztOj7Bh

— Lawyerforlaws (@lawyer4laws) March 11, 2026

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“They were given the information about homicide, the four levels of homicide, and then deliberated and decided that manslaughter, first degree was the charge that should come out of the grand jury,” Baird told the outlet.

Snelling had previously been charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.

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She pleaded not guilty to those charges and has been under house arrest at her family’s home in Tennessee.

Following her arrest, Snelling withdrew from the University of Kentucky and is no longer part of the university’s STUNT cheer team.

If convicted on the first-degree manslaughter charge, Snelling could face up to 20 years in prison. The additional charges could add another 11 years if she is found guilty.

Authorities say the incident began in the early hours of Aug. 27 at Snelling’s off-campus residence in Lexington.

According to investigators, Snelling gave birth to a baby boy at approximately 4 a.m. inside the home she shared with roommates. Police reports state that the roommates had previously suspected Snelling was hiding a pregnancy.

The roommates later told investigators they heard loud and unusual noises coming from Snelling’s bedroom throughout the early morning hours.

After the birth, investigators allege that Snelling cleaned blood from the scene, took a shower, and left the residence.

Police say she skipped her morning classes and a scheduled visit to a campus clinic before going to a McDonald’s restaurant.

While Snelling was away from the home, her roommates entered the bedroom and discovered evidence that prompted them to call authorities.

According to police reports, the roommates found a “blood-soaked towel on the floor and a plastic bag containing evidence of childbirth.”

The roommates then located the newborn inside a black plastic bag in a closet. They contacted emergency services and told the 911 operator that the infant was “cold to the touch.”

Police arrived at the residence shortly afterward.

When Snelling returned to the house, officers were waiting for her, and she was taken into custody.

Court documents show Snelling initially told police that the baby fell to the floor after she gave birth and that she did not believe the infant was “breathing or alive.”

She later told investigators she had passed out “on top of the baby” and woke up to find “the baby turning blue and purple.”

According to the documents, Snelling also told investigators she wrapped “the baby up like a burrito and laid next to it” because it “gave her a little comfort in the moment.”

Investigators later reported that Snelling told medical staff the infant had shown “a little bit of fetal movement” and made a “whimper” after birth.

Police also said Snelling took several photographs while she was in labor, but later deleted them.

Authorities said the images were removed “in an attempt to hide the birth,” and investigators believe additional images may have been destroyed before her arrest.

Kentucky newborn baby killer :
Former Kentucky cheerleader indicted for first degree manslaughter after her baby was found dead in a trash bag inside a closet .pic.twitter.com/ZDJgl5NtQ7

— Tom Moore (@junogsp7) March 11, 2026

The case continues to move forward through the Fayette County court system following the grand jury indictment.

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