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Former University of Kentucky Student Pleads Guilty in Infant Death Case
Just the facts
Former University of Kentucky STUNT team member Laken Snelling, age 22, admitted in court that she deprived her newborn child of oxygen following an unexpected delivery. Law enforcement officers in Lexington, Kentucky, originally discovered the deceased infant inside a trash bag in a closet on August 27, 2024. Snelling was subsequently indicted by a Fayette County grand jury on charges including first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. Under the terms of the accepted plea agreement, Snelling faces up to 10 years in state prison.
Why this is news
Former University of Kentucky student-athlete Laken Snelling changed her plea to guilty in Fayette County Circuit Court on August 21, 2026. The plea resolves criminal charges stemming from the August 2024 death of her newborn son.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.