A University of Kentucky cheerleader was arrested after police discovered her deceased infant hidden in a closet. Laken Ashlee Snelling, 21, faced charges following the grim discovery at an off-campus residence in Lexington. Authorities found the baby wrapped in a towel inside a black trash bag within a closet, according to a police report.
Snelling’s social media activity drew attention after she listed “being a mother” as one of her goals in a June 25 TikTok post, which included a baby emoji alongside aspirations like marriage and financial stability. The revelation of her arrest sparked outrage online, with users questioning the contradiction between her stated ambitions and the alleged crime.
Charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant, Snelling was released on a $100,000 bond and placed under house arrest at her parents’ home in Jefferson City, Tennessee. During a court appearance, she remained largely silent, avoiding direct interaction with her attorney.
The incident has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the newborn’s death and the legal consequences of such actions. No further details about the baby’s condition or the events leading to the discovery have been publicly disclosed.