Laken Snelling, ex-Kentucky student whose infant was found dead in closet, pleads guilty to manslaughter

Laken Snelling, a 22-year-old former University of Kentucky student-athlete, pleaded guilty on Friday to first-degree manslaughter in Lexington, Kentucky, in connection with the death of her newborn son, whose body was discovered inside a closet.

Snelling, a former member of the University of Kentucky STUNT team, entered her guilty plea in court in Lexington after initially pleading not guilty to multiple criminal charges stemming from the discovery of her deceased infant inside a local residence.

Incident Overview

Lexington city officials and local law enforcement reported that officers responded on Aug. 27 to a residence following an emergency call regarding an unresponsive infant. Upon arriving at the scene, responding personnel discovered the body of a newborn infant wrapped inside a towel and placed within a black trash bag stored inside a closet.

According to a police citation associated with the investigation, Snelling allegedly admitted to law enforcement officers that she attempted to conceal evidence of having given birth from her roommates. Subsequent medical examination conducted by the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that the infant was born alive prior to his death. Pathologists determined the official cause of death to be asphyxia by undetermined means.

Timeline of Events

1. August 27: City of Lexington police officers responded to a local residence following an emergency report of an unresponsive infant, where they located the deceased newborn hidden in a trash bag inside a closet.
2. Initial Court Appearance and Indictment: Following the investigation by municipal law enforcement and medical examiners, a local grand jury returned a multi-count indictment against Snelling, to which she initially entered a plea of not guilty.
3. August 21, 2026 Court Hearing: Snelling formally appeared in court in Lexington, Kentucky, and altered her plea from not guilty to guilty regarding the charge of first-degree manslaughter.

Suspect Information

Laken Snelling is a 22-year-old former student-athlete at the University of Kentucky. During her enrollment at the university, Snelling participated as a member of the school's STUNT athletic program. Court records and law enforcement citations indicate she resided at the Lexington residence where emergency responders were summoned following the discovery of the infant.

Victim Information

The victim in the case was Snelling's infant son. Official findings released by the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office established that the newborn was born alive before suffering fatal injuries. In accordance with privacy policies regarding deceased minors and family members, officials have not publicly released the infant's name.

Police Response

Officers from the Lexington Police Department responded to the residential location on Aug. 27 after receiving an emergency dispatch call concerning an unresponsive newborn baby. Upon gaining entry to the home, officers located the scene and secured the premises to initiate a death investigation. Responding personnel confirmed the infant was deceased at the scene and immediately notified homicide detectives and forensics personnel to begin processing the location.

Investigation

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death was conducted jointly by local police detectives and the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office. Investigators examined the residence, interviewed occupants, and documented physical findings inside the closet where the baby was found. Medical examiners conducted an autopsy to evaluate the cause and manner of death, concluding that the infant had been born alive and subsequently died as a result of asphyxia produced by undetermined means.

Evidence Collected

• A black trash bag located inside a closet containing the infant's body.
• A bath towel wrapped around the deceased infant inside the trash bag.
• Statements provided to investigating officers by Snelling regarding efforts to conceal her childbirth from roommates.
• Autopsy records and official cause-of-death findings documented by the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office.

Charges Filed

Following the investigation and subsequent grand jury proceedings, Snelling faced a multi-count indictment. Under Kentucky law, these criminal charges carry specific statutory definitions and procedural classifications within the state criminal justice system:

• First-Degree Manslaughter: In Kentucky, first-degree manslaughter is classified as a Class B felony. A person is guilty of first-degree manslaughter when, with intent to cause serious physical injury to another person, they cause the death of that person or another person, or when they cause the death of another person under circumstances which do not constitute murder because they act under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance. Class B felonies in Kentucky typically carry a statutory penalty of 10 to 20 years in state prison upon conviction.
• Abuse of Corpse: Classified as a Class D felony in Kentucky when a person intentionally treats a human corpse in a way that would outrage ordinary family sensibilities, or intentionally maltreats, conceals, or removes a human body. A Class D felony conviction generally carries a potential prison sentence of one to five years under state law.
• Tampering with Physical Evidence: Under state statutes, tampering with physical evidence occurs when an individual believes an official proceeding is pending or about to be instituted and alters, destroys, conceals, or removes physical evidence with intent to impair its verity or availability. This offense is classified as a Class D felony carrying a potential sentence of one to five years in prison.
• Concealing the Birth of an Infant: Under Kentucky criminal statutes, concealing the birth of an infant involves intentionally concealing the dead body of a newborn child to prevent determination of whether the child was born alive or dead. Penalties for misdemeanor or felony statutory classifications depend on specific statutory elements and prosecutor filings.

Court Information

The case was prosecuted within the state judicial circuit court serving Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky. Initial court proceedings followed a formal grand jury indictment charging Snelling with four criminal counts. Snelling originally entered a plea of not guilty during her preliminary proceedings before electing to change her plea to guilty during a court hearing held in Lexington.

Statements from Authorities

While individual prosecutors and law enforcement officers did not provide direct verbal quotes in the public releases, the City of Lexington issued a press release outlining the initial emergency response and police findings. Additionally, official records provided by the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office formally documented the post-mortem determinations, establishing that the infant was born alive and died from asphyxia by undetermined means.

Public Safety Information

Cases involving crisis situations, unintended pregnancies, or postpartum distress highlight the availability of legal safe-haven resources and support services. Safe Haven laws in all 50 states allow parents to surrender unharmed newborns to designated locations such as hospitals, fire stations, or police stations without fear of prosecution. Individuals in crisis or seeking support can contact national helplines for assistance. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or severe distress, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact emergency services by dialing 911.

What Happens Next

Following a formal guilty plea in a felony criminal case, the judicial process transitions from the guilt phase to the sentencing phase. The presiding judge typically orders the Department of Corrections or court probation officers to prepare a pre-sentence investigation report detailing the defendant's criminal history, personal background, and the circumstances of the offense. A formal sentencing hearing will be scheduled, during which both the prosecution and defense counsel present arguments regarding the appropriate length and conditions of the sentence. The judge will then pronounce the final statutory sentence under Kentucky law.

Source Attribution

This news report was compiled from official reporting and public documentation provided by NBC News, local NBC affiliate WLEX in Lexington, Kentucky, press releases from the City of Lexington, and official findings released by the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office. Original coverage of the court proceedings was published online by NBC News at nbcnews.com.