Full Breakdown
Former University of Kentucky Cheerleader Sentenced for Newborn’s Death
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The Sentencing and Charges
On October 16 a Fayette Circuit Court judge sentenced 22-year-old Laken Snelling to ten years in the Kentucky Department of Corrections. Snelling pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. The ten-year term applies to manslaughter; one-year terms for the three lesser offenses run concurrently.
Timeline of Key Events
- August 27, 2025 – Snelling gave birth to a baby boy in her off-campus Lexington apartment.
- August 21 – Snelling entered a guilty plea to the four charges.
- March 10 – A Fayette County grand jury returned an indictment after the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office concluded the infant was born alive.
- October 16 – The ten-year prison sentence was imposed.
Details of the Crime
Police were called after Snelling’s roommates heard loud noises around 4 a.m. on August 27 and found a blood-soaked towel and a black trash bag in Snelling’s closet. The infant’s body, wrapped in the towel and placed in the bag, was cold to the touch. The Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office determined the child was born alive and died from asphyxia by undetermined means.
Snelling told investigators she was awake for about 30 minutes after delivery, then passed out on top of the baby. Upon waking, she said the infant was “turning blue and purple,” and she subsequently deprived him of oxygen, wrapped him in a towel, placed him in the bag, and cleaned the scene.
Official Statements & Responses
Commonwealth’s Attorney Kimberly Henderson Baird called the case “very tragic” and noted the plea agreement reflected Snelling’s “extreme emotional disturbance.” The judge confirmed Snelling will receive credit for 415 days of house arrest already served and will be eligible for parole after completing 85 percent of her sentence.
Verbatim Quotes
Data & Statistics
- Sentence: 10 years for manslaughter; 1 year each for the three additional charges, all concurrent.
- House-arrest credit: 415 days applied to the prison term.
- Parole eligibility: after serving 85 % of the ten-year sentence.
What’s Next
Snelling will be transferred to a state correctional facility to begin serving her sentence. She will not be eligible for probation and must await a parole hearing after the 85 % threshold is reached. No further details about her placement within the prison system have been released.