A shocking twist has emerged in the case of a former cheerleader accused of hiding her newborn’s death. Police say 21-year-old Laken Snelling placed her baby boy in a garbage bag and left him in a closet before officers discovered the tragic scene.
Snelling, a University of Kentucky student, was arrested in August and charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and concealing a birth. She initially claimed she accidentally rolled onto the baby and found him unresponsive. But newly released court documents reveal she admitted the infant had shown “a little bit of movement” and even made a “whimper” at birth.
“She guessed that meant he was alive,” hospital staff told investigators. The infant was believed to be full term. Snelling, once a member of the school’s cheerleading team, has pleaded not guilty. She was released on a $100,000 bond and is awaiting trial.
One neighbor shared, “It’s heartbreaking beyond words.” The case has left the community stunned, raising painful questions about denial, secrecy, and choices in moments of crisis. How should society better support young women facing hidden pregnancies?
