A former cheerleader at the University of Kentucky, Laken Snelling, has been indicted on a first-degree manslaughter charge after authorities said an autopsy revealed that her newborn baby was born alive before his death.
The 21-year-old was indicted by a Fayette County Grand Jury after findings from the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office concluded that the infant died from asphyxia by undetermined means.
According to Kimberly Baird, the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Fayette County, jurors were presented with the various homicide charges before deciding that first-degree manslaughter was the appropriate indictment.
Snelling had earlier been charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant. She pleaded not guilty to those charges and had been under house arrest at her family home in Tennessee.
Following her arrest, she withdrew from the University of Kentucky and is no longer a member of the school’s STUNT cheer team.
Authorities said Snelling gave birth to a baby boy at around 4 a.m. on August 27 at her off-campus residence in Lexington.
According to police reports, her roommates—who suspected she had been hiding a pregnancy—heard unusual noises coming from her room during the early morning hours.
Investigators said Snelling allegedly cleaned up blood from the room after the birth, showered and left the house without seeking medical help.
While she was away, roommates entered her room and reportedly found blood-stained items along with a plastic bag containing signs of childbirth. They later discovered the newborn inside a black plastic bag in a closet and contacted emergency services, telling the operator the baby felt cold to the touch.
When Snelling returned home, officers from the Lexington Police Department were waiting and took her into custody.
During questioning, she reportedly told investigators that the baby fell to the floor during birth and that she believed he was not breathing. She later claimed she may have passed out on top of the baby and woke up to find him turning blue and purple.
Court documents also state that Snelling admitted wrapping the baby in a towel and lying next to him because it gave her some comfort.
However, investigators later said she told medical personnel that the newborn had shown slight movement and made a small whimper after birth. Police also alleged that she took photos while in labor but later deleted them in an attempt to hide evidence of the birth.
If convicted, Snelling faces up to 20 years in prison for the manslaughter charge, along with an additional 11 years related to the other charges.
