A student and cheerleader at the University of Kentucky was arrested on Saturday, Aug. 30, after police found her infant’s body in her closet.
Laken Snelling, 21, was taken into custody Sunday, Aug. 31, on charges including abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant, the Lexington Police Department (LPD) said in a news release.
Police were called to a home on the 400 block of Park Avenue in Lexington, Ky., after a report of an unresponsive infant, according to Lex 18.
Authorities say Snelling is the mother of the baby and “admitted to giving birth.” The infant was pronounced dead at the scene around 10:30 a.m. local time. The Fayette County Coroner’s Office will determine the official cause of death.
The arrest citation notes that the “infant was located wrapped in a towel inside of a black trash bag,” according to Fox 19 Now. Snelling competed on the university’s competitive cheerleading stunt team for three years. She is originally from White Pine, Tenn., where she attended Jefferson County High School, according to the official team roster.
“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,” the university said in a statement obtained by The Independent.
