New information is coming to light 😳

A shocking case has emerged at the University of Kentucky after cheerleader and student Laken Snelling, 21, was arrested in connection with the discovery of a dead infant. The child was reportedly found wrapped in a towel, stuffed inside a black trash bag, and hidden in a closet at her off-campus residence late last month.

Authorities say Snelling, an Interdisciplinary Disability Studies student from White Pine, Tennessee, admitted to giving birth and later confessed to discarding the infant. She is now facing charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant — a charge to which she has pleaded not guilty.

The Fayette County Coroner’s Office pronounced the baby dead at the scene, but the initial autopsy results were inconclusive. Officials say further “extensive microscopic analyses” will be conducted to determine whether the infant was stillborn, miscarried, or born alive. “I understand the community’s concern and sensitivity surrounding the death of a child,” Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn said in a statement. “We are conducting a thorough and methodical death investigation to ensure all facts are carefully considered.”

New details have also surfaced regarding the child’s paternity. Snelling’s ex-boyfriend, Izaiah Hall, is believed to be the father, and his family confirmed that he provided a DNA sample for testing. Snelling is reportedly in a new relationship with former basketball player Jordon Connor.

University spokesperson Jay Blanton confirmed Snelling has withdrawn from the school and is no longer part of the STUNT cheerleading team she had performed with for three years.

Following her plea of not guilty, Snelling was released on a \$100,000 bond and ordered to live with her parents until her next court appearance on September 26. If convicted, she faces between one and five years in prison, as the charges are classified as a Class D felony in Kentucky.

The disturbing case has left the community reeling, raising difficult questions about mental health, unplanned pregnancies, and the legal consequences surrounding infant deaths in the state.