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Laken Snelling Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Infant Death

8/22/2026

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Summary

Snelling Pleads Guilty

Former University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Aug. 21, 2026.
She admitted abuse of a corpse, evidence tampering, and concealing the infant’s birth.
The newborn was found on Aug. 27, 2025 in a towel inside a trash bag in her closet.
Prosecutors recommended ten years for manslaughter plus three years for the other charges.
Snelling, 22, is on a $100,000 bond and faces sentencing on Oct. 16, 2026.

Summary

Snelling Abandons Newborn

Police discovered deleted pregnancy and labor photos on Snelling’s phone during the investigation.
Snelling withdrew from the University of Kentucky, ending her participation on the STUNT team.
Officials said Snelling wrapped the newborn like a burrito for comfort before leaving to buy McDonald’s.
Snelling told investigators she stayed awake thirty minutes after birth before fainting onto the infant.

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Snelling Pleads Guilty

Former University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Aug. 21, 2026.
She admitted abuse of a corpse, evidence tampering, and concealing the infant’s birth.
The newborn was found on Aug. 27, 2025 in a towel inside a trash bag in her closet.
Prosecutors recommended ten years for manslaughter plus three years for the other charges.
Snelling, 22, is on a $100,000 bond and faces sentencing on Oct. 16, 2026.

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