A University of Kentucky cheerleader who publicly shared her dreams of motherhood on social media now faces serious criminal charges after allegedly concealing the death of her newborn infant.
Resist the Mainstream reported Tuesday that Laken Snelling, 21, was taken into custody on Saturday and charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant following a police investigation in Lexington.
The case has drawn widespread attention due to a stark contrast between Snelling’s social media posts and the allegations against her.
Just months before her arrest, on June 25, the college student had posted a TikTok video listing her life goals, which included having a baby. In that same social media post, Snelling also expressed desires to get married and own a home.
The video has since become a focal point for online users who have been leaving comments since news of her arrest broke.
Officers with the Lexington Police Department responded to a residence on the 400 block of Park Avenue on Wednesday morning after receiving a report about an unresponsive infant, according to LEX 18.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene and pronounced the baby dead at approximately 10:30 a.m. The infant’s body was discovered in disturbing circumstances that led to the criminal charges.
According to the arrest citation, the “infant was located wrapped in a towel inside of a black trash bag.” The document provides additional details about what investigators say occurred.
The citation states that Snelling “admitted to concealing the birth by cleaning any evidence, placing all cleaning items used inside of a black trash bag, including the infant, who was wrapped in a towel.” These admissions formed the basis for the charges filed against her.
As of Monday, the Fayette County Coroner’s Office had not yet determined the child’s cause of death, according to reporting by the Independent.
The investigation remains ongoing with multiple agencies involved.
Snelling remains in custody at the Fayette County Detention Center while the Lexington Police Department’s Special Victims Section continues its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death.
The case has prompted discussions about available resources in Kentucky for parents who cannot care for newborn children.
Social media users commenting on Snelling’s TikTok post have pointed out that while abortion access is severely restricted in the state, safe haven laws exist.
Kentucky operates under a near-total abortion ban that has been in effect since 2022. The law includes no exceptions for cases involving rape or incest, making it one of the most restrictive in the nation.
The current legislation only permits abortion procedures when necessary to prevent the “substantial risk of death” or to prevent the “serious, permanent impairment of a life-sustaining organ” of the pregnant person.
These narrow exceptions leave few legal options for women facing unwanted pregnancies. However, Kentucky does maintain safe haven laws that allow parents to legally surrender newborns at designated locations without facing criminal prosecution.
The Daily Mail reported that these locations include hospitals, fire stations and other approved facilities throughout the state.
Snelling was an active member of the University of Kentucky athletics program, specifically participating in the school’s STUNT team, which is a competitive cheerleading program according to the university’s athletics website.
The University of Kentucky confirmed her involvement with the program in a statement to LEX 18, saying “We can confirm that she has been a member of the STUNT team for the last three seasons.”
The statement directed further inquiries to the Lexington Police Department.
According to available records, Snelling hails from White Pine, Tennessee, and was pursuing studies in Interdisciplinary Disability Studies at the University of Kentucky before her arrest.
The investigation continues as authorities work to determine all circumstances surrounding the infant’s death and the events that led to the criminal charges against the former college athlete.
