Laken Snelling, a former University of Kentucky cheerleader, was sentenced to 10 years in prison Friday in connection with the death of her newborn child. Snelling pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and three related charges after the infant was found in a trash bag inside a closet at her Lexington residence. Authorities said the baby was born alive and died from asphyxiation. The case began after roommates reported loud noises coming from the closet in August 2025.
The sentence followed a court proceeding in which Snelling described the circumstances surrounding the child’s death and acknowledged depriving the infant of oxygen. Court documents also detailed her account of the birth, the discovery of the child’s condition and efforts to delete evidence related to the pregnancy and labor.
| 1) | Sentence follows guilty plea |
| 2) | Infant found in Lexington residence |
| 3) | Medical examiner determined cause of death |
| 4) | Defendant described events after birth |
| 5) | Additional charges resolved in case |
Sentence follows guilty plea
Laken Snelling, 22, received a 10-year prison sentence Friday after pleading guilty in August to first-degree manslaughter. The case was heard in Lexington, Kentucky, where she had been a University of Kentucky student and senior at the time of the incident. She had been indicted in March on the manslaughter charge and three additional offenses.
The sentence addressed the death of her newborn child and the conduct investigators said followed the birth. The guilty plea resolved the criminal case without a trial on the charges. Court proceedings included statements from Snelling about the circumstances and her actions after the infant died.
Infant found in Lexington residence
The investigation began in August 2025 after roommates heard loud noises coming from a closet at the residence where Snelling was staying. Lexington police officers responded to the location and found the infant inside a trash bag in the closet. The city said the child was cold to the touch when officers arrived.
The discovery led to Snelling’s arrest in August 2025. Investigators examined the location and gathered information about the birth, the child’s condition and the events that occurred before police arrived. The case focused on the newborn’s death and on actions taken to conceal the birth and handle evidence afterward.
Medical examiner determined cause of death
The Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the infant had been born alive and died from asphyxiation. That finding formed a central part of the prosecution’s case and supported the manslaughter charge to which Snelling later pleaded guilty.
The medical determination established that the child survived the birth before dying. Investigators and prosecutors used that conclusion together with the scene evidence and Snelling’s statements to explain how the death occurred. No additional medical findings beyond the reported cause of death were provided in the available account.
Defendant described events after birth
According to court documents, Snelling told investigators that she remained awake for about 30 minutes after giving birth before passing out on top of the baby. She said that when she woke, the infant was turning blue and purple. Her account was presented as part of the court record during the criminal proceedings.
When Judge Diane Minnifield asked how she ended the infant’s life, Snelling responded:
“I deprived him of oxygen.”
Snelling also told the court that she had been under substantial emotional stress and that the baby’s arrival was unexpected. She said she did not seek help, ended the child’s life, cleaned up and did not tell anyone.
Additional charges resolved in case
Along with first-degree manslaughter, Snelling pleaded guilty to abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant. The charges reflected the handling of the child’s remains, the alleged removal or destruction of evidence and the failure to disclose the birth.
Investigators also found that photos of the labor had been deleted from Snelling’s phone, along with other evidence connected to the pregnancy, according to court documents. The combined charges were resolved through the guilty plea and sentencing, bringing the case to a conclusion in court.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Snelling was sentenced to 10 years in prison. |
| 2 | She pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and three related charges. |
| 3 | Police found the newborn in a trash bag inside a closet in August 2025. |
| 4 | The medical examiner determined that the infant was born alive and died from asphyxiation. |
Summary
The 10-year sentence concludes the criminal case against Laken Snelling over the death of her newborn in Lexington. Her guilty plea covered manslaughter and three related charges, while police and medical findings established that the infant was born alive and died from asphyxiation. The court record also documented Snelling’s account of the birth and the steps investigators said she took afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was sentenced in the case?
Laken Snelling, a former University of Kentucky cheerleader and student, was sentenced in connection with the death of her newborn child.
What sentence did Snelling receive?
She received a 10-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter and three related charges.
How did investigators discover the infant?
Lexington police responded after roommates reported loud noises from a closet and found the infant inside a trash bag at the residence.
What was the reported cause of death?
The Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the infant was born alive and died from asphyxiation.