A shocking case has gripped Kentucky after a college cheerleader’s newborn was found dead in a trash bag. Police say 21-year-old Laken Snelling, a member of the University of Kentucky’s STUNT team, has been charged in connection with the tragedy.

Authorities reported that officers discovered the infant wrapped in a towel inside a black trash bag on August 30. An autopsy confirmed the baby was a boy, though the exact cause of death is still unknown. “We are conducting a thorough and methodical death investigation,” Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn said.

Snelling pleaded not guilty this week to charges including abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and concealing the birth. Court documents allege she admitted to cleaning the scene and placing items used—along with the infant—inside the bag. If convicted, she faces up to five years in prison.

The case has left the community heartbroken and searching for answers. “The death of a child is always tragic,” Ginn added.

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