Kentucky Cheerleader Baby Autopsy: 7 Shocking Details Revealed In The Laken Snelling Case

The tragic and deeply disturbing case of former University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling has captured national attention, particularly following the release of the preliminary autopsy report for her newborn baby. As of today, December 18, 2025, the investigation remains active, with the medical examiner unable to definitively determine the cause and manner of the infant's death, leaving a critical question mark over the charges Snelling faces. The latest court filings and police affidavits reveal a chilling timeline of events, from a secret birth in an off-campus apartment to the discovery of the baby's body in a closet trash bag. The case, which bears similarities to other high-profile incidents involving young athletes and concealed pregnancies, has sparked a public debate on maternal mental health, the pressures of college athletics, and strict state abortion laws. The former UK student, a senior with a promising future, now faces felony charges as her case moves toward a grand jury indictment.

Laken Snelling: Biography and Case Profile

Laken Ashley Snelling, 21, was a student-athlete whose life was upended by the tragic events of late August 2025. Her background provides a stark contrast to the severity of the allegations she now faces.

• Full Name: Laken Ashley Snelling
• Age: 21 (as of 2025)
• Hometown: White Pine, Tennessee
• University: University of Kentucky (UK)
• Academic Status: Former senior, majoring in Interdisciplinary Disability Studies. She has since withdrawn from the university.
• Athletic Affiliation: Member of the UK STUNT team (competitive cheerleading) for three seasons. The STUNT team focuses on the technical and athletic aspects of cheer.
• Incident Location: Off-campus apartment on Park Avenue in Lexington, Kentucky.
• Date of Incident: August 27, 2025
• Infant: Newborn male.
• Current Status: Released on a $100,000 surety bond and placed on house arrest at her parents' home in Tennessee. She has been ordered to wear an electronic monitor.
• Charges: Abuse of a Corpse, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Concealing the Birth of an Infant (all Class D felonies in Kentucky).

The Inconclusive Autopsy and The Mystery of Death

The core of the legal case hinges on the findings of the autopsy, which, in its preliminary phase, has only deepened the mystery surrounding the infant's death. The Fayette County Coroner's Office confirmed the baby was a male infant.

The initial report from Fayette County Coroner Gary W. Ginn was definitive in its lack of conclusion: the cause and manner of death were ruled inconclusive. This finding means that forensic pathologists could not determine if the baby was stillborn or died after birth.

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The coroner's office stated that "extensive microscopic analyses are essential to determine the cause and manner of death." These further studies are critical. If the baby was proven to have been born alive and died due to neglect or intentional harm, the charges against Snelling could be upgraded to more serious offenses, such as involuntary manslaughter or murder.

The death investigation remains open and active, pending the results of these critical microscopic and toxicology studies.

7 Shocking Details Revealed in the Police Affidavits

Court documents filed by the Lexington Police Department's Special Victims Section, including search warrant affidavits, have provided a harrowing account of the hours surrounding the birth and the subsequent discovery. These details highlight the desperate attempt to conceal the pregnancy and the birth.

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1. The Birth and the Fall: Snelling allegedly told police she gave birth around 4:00 a.m. on August 27, and the baby "fell onto the floor of her bedroom."
2. The "Whimper" and Loss of Color: She reported hearing a "slight whimper sound" from the newborn, suggesting the baby may have been born alive. She then stated she fell asleep on top of the baby and, upon waking up at 7:30 a.m., saw the newborn was "turning blue and purple."
3. The Concealment Method: After cleaning up, Snelling wrapped the deceased infant in a towel, placed the body and the placenta (which was in a Ziploc bag) into a black trash bag, and hid it in her closet. This action forms the basis of the felony charges of abuse of a corpse and concealing the birth of an infant.
4. The McDonald's Trip: Following the concealment, Snelling left her home, intending to go to class. She did not attend class but instead sat in her car in the parking lot and ordered McDonald's through the app.
5. Discovery by Roommates: The crime was discovered when Snelling's roommates, who were concerned after hearing a loud thud and seeing a blood-soaked towel, entered her room and found the trash bag in the closet. They were the ones who placed the 911 call.
6. Pre-Birth Social Media Activity: Snelling's social media posts, including a June 2025 TikTok, showed her listing "a mother holding a baby" as one of her "goals," which has been widely scrutinized in light of the events. Other photos from July showed her with a presumed boyfriend, with comments speculating the images were a maternity shoot.
7. Digital Evidence: A search warrant for her phone revealed she had allegedly taken and then deleted photos of herself during the process of giving birth. Detectives also found searches related to "hidden pregnancy" or "concealed pregnancy."

Legal Ramifications and Pre-Trial Status

The legal road ahead for Laken Snelling is complex, particularly given the inconclusive nature of the autopsy. The charges she currently faces are serious felonies under Kentucky state law.

The charge of Abuse of a Corpse and Tampering with Physical Evidence are Class D felonies, each carrying a potential sentence of one to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 upon conviction.

During a brief court appearance on September 26, 2025, Snelling waived her right to a preliminary hearing. This move allows the case to proceed directly to a Grand Jury, which will review the evidence presented by the Fayette County Prosecutor's office and decide whether to formally indict Snelling on the existing charges or perhaps introduce new, more severe charges based on the final autopsy results.

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Following her release on bond, a judge in October 2025 imposed stricter conditions on her house arrest, mandating that she wear an electronic monitor and remain confined to her father's home in Tennessee.

Broader Context: The Shadow of Other Cases and State Laws

The Snelling case has drawn comparisons to other high-profile incidents involving young women who concealed their pregnancies and the subsequent death of their infants, such as the case of former Ohio cheerleader Brooke Skylar Richardson.

Richardson was acquitted of aggravated murder and involuntary manslaughter in 2019 but was convicted of gross abuse of a corpse—a conviction that was later sealed in 2022.

Furthermore, the Laken Snelling case unfolds in Kentucky, a state with some of the strictest abortion laws in the United States, where nearly all abortions are banned except to save the life of the mother or prevent serious harm. This context highlights the immense pressure and lack of options some young women may feel when facing an unwanted or concealed pregnancy, leading to tragic outcomes like the one in Lexington. The case serves as a stark reminder of the legal and societal complexities surrounding infant death and maternal actions.