Photo: Fayette County Detention Center
A University of Kentucky competitive cheerleader was arrested after her newborn was found inside a garbage bag tossed in a closet, the Lexington Police Department said in a news release shared on its website.
Laken Snelling, was arrested on Sunday (August 31) and charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant. The baby was found by Lexington Police officers "wrapped in a towel inside of a black trash bag," according to a police report obtained by WLWT.
Snelling was confirmed to be the mother of the baby, having "admitted to giving birth," while being interviewed by officers. The infant was pronounced dead at the scene.
Nearly all abortions have been illegal in the state of Kentucky dating back to 2022. Snelling, a senior, is listed on the University of Kentucky's athletics website as a member of the STUNT cheerleading team, having competed for the past three seasons, Lex18 reports.
“We can confirm that she has been a member of the STUNT team for the last three seasons. All other questions should be directed to the Lexington Police,” a university spokesperson told the news station.
Snelling is currently being held at the Fayette County Detention Center, according to the Lexington Police Department. The Fayette County County Coroner's Office will determine the infant's cause of death.