A University of Kentucky cheerleader, Laken Snelling, was arrested Saturday in the death of an infant found in her closet. The manner of death is currently listed as undetermined, but Snelling was charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of a child. She was released on a $100,000 bond and appeared for her arraignment, where she pleaded not guilty to all charges. Authorities said they may file additional charges as the investigation is still ongoing.
Kentucky Cheerleader’s Infant Found
On August 27, 2025, officers were dispatched to a home in Lexington, Kentucky, for “a deceased infant being located inside of a closet.” According to the arrest citation, the infant was found inside a black trash bag, wrapped up in a towel. Court documents show the 21-year-old admitted to police that she gave birth and attempted to conceal it by cleaning up the evidence and placing the cleaning items inside the trash bag with the infant’s body. However, it is still unclear if she was aware of her pregnancy at the time of the birth.
The Lexington Police Department has denied the release of the 911 calls while the case is currently under investigation. The University of Kentucky has also failed to release a statement to the public beyond confirming Snelling was a student and a cheer STUNT team member. Snelling was ordered to live with her parents in Jefferson City, Tennessee, under house arrest and is expected to appear for her preliminary hearing on September 26. Her defense attorney, Brandon Marshall, refused to comment on the situation at this time.
The media is already speculating who the father of Snelling’s deceased infant is. Conner Jordan, a former college basketball player for King University and Tusculum University in Tennessee, is seen spread across her social media pages. It is not confirmed if he is the father, but the two were posted together on their socials for months leading up to the birth. Following the arrest, he has deleted all of his social media accounts.
The Coroner’s Report
The Fayette County Coroner’s Office released a statement on Wednesday after the authorities found the infant and were given time to form a report. “I understand the community’s concern and sensitivity surrounding the death of a child. This death affects many lives in our neighboring state of Tennessee, as well as those in the Commonwealth,” Gary W. Ginn, the county’s coroner, said. “We are currently conducting a thorough and methodical death investigation to ensure all facts are carefully considered.”
During their press release, they noted the preliminary autopsy results were ruled inconclusive, and more tests are needed to determine the newborn baby boy’s cause of death. The report noted that “extensive microscopic analyses are essential to determine the cause and manner of death.” According to their office, he was born the day he was found.
Dr. Marcello DiStasio, a professor of pathology at Yale School of Medicine, weighed in on the coroner’s investigation. While he is not involved, he described the results as routine, but theorized that there are no visible signs of harm. He said, “It’s more likely that they did see nothing and they suspect something that would not show a grossly visible wound or pathology — that’s more likely.”
The coroner said they would release additional information and provide updates to the public as the investigation continues and more is uncovered in Snelling’s case. “Please keep the family and friends, as well as the University of Kentucky friends, in your thoughts and prayers,” Ginn said. The motive behind Snelling’s actions is also unknown and will be released as further information is revealed.
