Laken Snelling Charged with First-Degree Manslaughter After Newborn Found Dead in Closet, Wrapped in Trash Bag

Laken Snelling, a 22-year-old former University of Kentucky cheerleader, now faces the grim weight of first-degree manslaughter charges after her newborn son was discovered dead in a closet, wrapped in a trash bag and a blood-soaked towel. The Fayette County grand jury's indictment, secured by a bombshell report from the Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office, revealed that the baby was born alive in August 2025 and died from asphyxia. 'They were given the information about homicide, the four levels of homicide, and deliberated,' said Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney Kimberly Baird, explaining how the grand jury arrived at the charge. 'Manslaughter first degree was the decision.'

Snelling's name resurfaced in headlines last year when her newborn was found hidden in her off-campus apartment, a discovery that shocked her community and sparked a wave of public outrage. At the time, she was charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant, all while pleading not guilty. Now, under house arrest at her family home in Tennessee since October, she faces a potential 20-year prison sentence for the manslaughter charge, with an additional 11 years for the remaining counts.

The tragedy began when Snelling's roommates reported hearing strange noises from her bedroom in the days leading up to her son's death. On August 30, 2025, three days after giving birth, Snelling allegedly cleaned the scene and left her apartment to visit McDonald's. When she returned, her roommates discovered the baby's lifeless body in a closet, 'cold to the touch,' according to one roommate's testimony. Snelling was arrested immediately and claimed the newborn was already dead when she gave birth, a statement that contradicted the medical examiner's findings.

The investigation into Snelling's actions has uncovered a web of secrecy. Police executed a search warrant on her phone and accessed her social media accounts, revealing she had searched for images of herself during labor, photos of concealed pregnancies, and content that 'depicted ordinary pregnant women doing things they should not be doing,' according to an affidavit. Authorities suspect she deleted evidence of the pregnancy, birth, and baby in an attempt to hide the truth. 'Other items could have also been deleted,' Lexington police noted, including information about the birth of the full-term baby.

Snelling's timeline of events, as detailed in court documents, paints a harrowing picture. She told investigators she wrapped the newborn 'like a burrito' and 'laid next to it,' claiming the act gave her 'a little comfort in the moment.' She also allegedly told a medical worker the baby made a 'whimper' at birth and showed 'a little bit of fetal movement.' Yet, she later claimed she fell asleep on top of the baby and woke to find it 'turning blue and purple.'

The case has raised questions about the lack of support for young mothers in the community. Snelling's former boyfriend, former college basketball star Connor Jordan, and a previous partner, quarterback Izaiah Hall, were both involved in DNA tests to determine paternity. Snelling's history of performing with UK's STUNT team, captured in April 2025 with what appears to be a pregnancy bump, suggests she may have concealed the pregnancy for months. Her social media posts in June, where she seemed to cover her front, added to the mystery of how she hid the baby's existence.

As the legal battle unfolds, Snelling is set to return to court within the next three weeks. The case has become a cautionary tale for many, highlighting the consequences of secrecy and the importance of medical and legal oversight in situations involving vulnerable individuals. For now, the public watches closely, waiting to see how the system will respond to a tragedy that has shattered a young woman's life and left a community reeling.