Beauty Queen Accused of Killing Newborn After Giving Birth in Bedroom Pleads Not Guilty to Manslaughter

Laken Snelling, the 22-year-old former University of Kentucky student and pageant competitor accused of killing her newborn infant, pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges during a brief court appearance Friday morning.

The plea marks the latest development in a case that began in August 2025, when authorities discovered a deceased infant hidden in a closet at Snelling’s off-campus residence. Flanked by her legal counsel, Snelling remained silent as her attorneys entered the plea on her behalf.

The investigation began on August 27, 2025, when Lexington Police Department (LPD) officers responded to a distress call from Snelling’s roommates. According to police records, the roommates reported finding blood in Snelling’s bedroom and hearing “strange noises” earlier that morning.

Upon searching the premises, investigators discovered the body of a newborn wrapped in a towel and placed inside a trash bag in Snelling’s closet. A subsequent autopsy conducted by the coroner’s office determined the cause of death was asphyxia by undetermined means.

Police reports indicate Snelling was not present when officers arrived, having allegedly left for classes shortly after the birth. She was later apprehended and transported to a university hospital for medical evaluation.

During police interrogation, Snelling waived her Miranda rights and provided a detailed account of the incident. She claimed she gave birth at approximately 4:00 a.m. and accidentally fell asleep on top of the infant.

According to search warrant affidavits, Snelling told investigators:

• The baby fell onto the floor during birth.
• She fell asleep on the child for 30 minutes.
• Upon waking, she noticed the infant was “turning blue and purple.”
• She wrapped the child in a towel and cleaned the scene before attending her scheduled classes.

Friday’s manslaughter plea follows a March grand jury indictment that included three additional felony charges: abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. Snelling, a former member of the University of Kentucky’s national runner-up STUNT team, withdrew from the university shortly after her arrest. She is currently residing at her father’s home in Tennessee under GPS monitoring after posting a $100,000 surety bond.

The court has scheduled a preliminary hearing for May 14, followed by a status hearing on June 12. If convicted on all counts, Snelling faces significant prison time under Kentucky law. Her defense team has not issued a formal statement regarding the specific evidence presented by the prosecution.