A former University of Kentucky student-athlete, Laken Snelling, is facing serious charges after allegedly giving birth to a baby who was later discovered deceased in her bedroom. The 21-year-old is accused of engaging in disturbing actions following the birth, including hiding the newborn in a wardrobe.
According to court documents, Snelling reportedly gave birth in the early hours of August 27, claiming she heard the baby make sounds and observed slight movements, leading her to believe the infant was alive. However, the baby was later found inside a trash bag concealed in a closet in Snelling’s room. Authorities discovered that Snelling had conducted various searches related to pregnancy on her phone, and the device contained deleted images of her in labor, along with questionable activities for a pregnant woman.
Further details from the court documents indicate that Snelling admitted to giving birth to the baby, who tragically fell to the floor and was left unattended. She reportedly took actions to conceal the birth, such as wrapping the infant in a manner described as comforting before ultimately placing the baby in a bag. Snelling’s flatmates allegedly heard concerning noises from her room during the birth, which she dismissed as fainting and falling.
Following the incident, Snelling skipped a lecture, ordered food through a mobile app, and briefly visited a student clinic. Her flatmates, upon inspecting her room, discovered evidence of childbirth, leading to authorities being alerted. Subsequently, Snelling was arrested upon her return. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is currently out on bail, under house arrest after waiving her preliminary hearing at a recent court appearance.