Laken Snelling pleads guilty to manslaughter in newborn death case

Laken Snelling, a 22-year-old former University of Kentucky cheerleader and STUNT team athlete, pleaded guilty in a Fayette County courtroom to several charges related to the death of her newborn son. The charges include first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.

During the proceedings, Snelling admitted to depriving the infant of oxygen, stating, “I was under a lot of emotional stress and my baby came unexpectedly. And instead of helping him I ended his life and afterward I cleaned up and didn’t tell anyone.” The case stems from an August 2025 incident in Lexington, where roommates discovered the infant's body inside a black trash bag hidden in a closet.

While Snelling had previously entered not-guilty pleas in April, she reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. The Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office determined the baby was born alive and died of asphyxia. Prosecutors have recommended a 10-year sentence for manslaughter and additional time for the other counts, totaling approximately 13 years. Sentencing is scheduled for October 16.