Former University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling, 22, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty in connection with the death of her newborn son. The case began in August 2025, when police responding to a report of an unresponsive infant discovered the baby boy inside a closet, wrapped in a towel and placed in a plastic trash bag. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and Snelling was arrested days later. Investigators said her roommates had heard unusual noises that morning, including a sound reportedly loud enough to knock a picture from the wall. Snelling later told them she had passed out because she felt unwell and had not eaten. A medical report determined that the baby had been born alive, while the cause of death was listed as asphyxia by undetermined means. The discovery led to an investigation that eventually brought more serious charges against the former cheerleader.

During questioning, Snelling reportedly gave investigators different accounts of what happened during the birth. She initially claimed the baby fell to the floor and that she did not think he was alive or breathing. She later said she had passed out on top of him for approximately 30 minutes and awoke to find his skin turning blue and purple. Investigators also recovered deleted phone data containing searches related to pregnancy and photographs taken during labor. In court, Snelling admitted responsibility, saying, “Instead of helping him, I ended his life.” She pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. Prosecutors sought a 10-year sentence for manslaughter and additional time for the other offenses. The court ultimately sentenced her to 10 years in prison, bringing a major development in a case that has drawn attention to the circumstances surrounding the newborn’s death.