Former University of Kentucky Student Indicted on Manslaughter Charge in Death of Newborn Son

A Fayette County grand jury has indicted a former University of Kentucky student on first-degree manslaughter and three additional charges in connection with the death of her newborn son, whose body was discovered in a closet at an off-campus Lexington home in August 2025.

Laken Snelling, 21, was formally indicted on March 10, 2026 on charges of first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant — the culmination of a months-long investigation involving the Lexington Police Department, the Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, the Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office, the Fayette County Coroner's Office, and the Kentucky State Police Forensic Laboratory.

What the Investigation Found

The case began on the morning of August 27, 2025, when Lexington Police officers were dispatched around 10:30 a.m. to a residence in the 400 block of Park Avenue — a street near the University of Kentucky campus — after a report of an unresponsive infant. Officers arrived to find the baby, who was pronounced dead at the scene. According to court documents, the newborn was found wrapped in a towel inside a trash bag in a closet.

Snelling was arrested shortly after and initially charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. The case was sent to a grand jury for further consideration in September 2025.

The critical development that elevated the charges came from the Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office, which determined that Infant Snelling had been born alive. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as asphyxia by undetermined means. That finding gave the grand jury grounds to consider homicide charges — and on March 10, the jury opted for first-degree manslaughter.

Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney Kimberly Baird explained the grand jury's deliberation process. "They were given the information about homicide, the four levels of homicide and then deliberated and decided that manslaughter first degree was the charge that should come out of the grand jury," Baird told WKYT.

What Court Documents Reveal

Court documents provide a detailed account of the events that preceded the discovery. According to those records, Snelling gave birth to a baby boy at approximately 4 a.m. on August 27 at her off-campus home. Her roommates, who had reportedly suspected she was concealing a pregnancy, told investigators they heard unusual and loud noises coming from her bedroom during the early morning hours.

Snelling later told investigators she did not believe the baby was breathing after giving birth and that she passed out on top of the child after the baby landed on the bedroom floor. She then said she wrapped the baby in a towel before placing the body in a trash bag and putting it in a closet before going back to sleep.

According to court documents cited by WBIR, Snelling also told medical staff at UK Hospital that the baby made a whimper and that she guessed the baby was alive — a statement with direct bearing on the manslaughter charge.

After giving birth, Snelling cleaned up blood in the room, showered, and left the home. Rather than attending morning classes or going to the university clinic, she reportedly went to a McDonald's. While she was gone, her roommates entered the bedroom and found what investigators described as troubling evidence, which ultimately led to the police call.

Snelling's Background at UK

At the time of her arrest, Snelling was enrolled at the University of Kentucky and was a member of the school's STUNT team, a competitive cheerleading discipline. Following her arrest in August 2025, she withdrew from the university and is no longer part of the program.

Potential Penalties and Next Steps

If convicted on the first-degree manslaughter charge, Snelling could face up to 20 years in prison. The additional charges — abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant — carry a combined potential sentence of up to an additional 11 years.

Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney Baird said Snelling's next court appearance is expected within the next two to three weeks. The investigation, which involved multiple state and county agencies, is described as ongoing.

Snelling has not yet entered a plea on the indictment.