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Laken Snelling Sentenced to 10 Years for Infant Death

By Drooid · Oct 16, 2026, 11:22 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Laken Snelling was sentenced to 10 years in prison for first-degree manslaughter.
She pleaded guilty on Aug. 21, 2026, to manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and concealing birth.
She gave birth on Aug. 27, 2025, suffocated the infant, and hid the body in a trash bag.
Quarterback Izaiah Hall, the baby’s father, said he forgave Snelling and wished her no harm.

History

Historical Context

In 1995, Susan Smith was convicted in South Carolina of murdering her two sons and received two concurrent life sentences after a two-and-a-half-hour jury deliberation. In August 2026, Laken Snelling pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter of her newborn and was sentenced to ten years. Both high-profile infanticide cases have prompted states to tighten newborn-death investigations and expand mandatory reporting.

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Story summary

Laken Snelling was sentenced to 10 years in prison for first-degree manslaughter.
She pleaded guilty on Aug. 21, 2026, to manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and concealing birth.
She gave birth on Aug. 27, 2025, suffocated the infant, and hid the body in a trash bag.
Quarterback Izaiah Hall, the baby’s father, said he forgave Snelling and wished her no harm.

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