Former Kentucky Cheerleader Laken Snelling Joined by Multiple Supporters in Court for Hearing About Her Dead Baby

Laken Snelling, the former University of Kentucky STUNT team member whose newborn was found deceased in a trash bag in her bedroom closet, received support from several people during a recent court appearance.

The 21-year-old appeared before a judge for less than a minute on Friday, Sept. 26. About 10 women were present to support Snelling, according to WLKY. WLWT reported that the women were her former classmates.

During the brief appearance, Snelling waived her right to a preliminary hearing. A grand jury will now review the evidence and determine whether to indict her.

This hearing came weeks after her initial court appearance on Sept. 2, when she was charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. Snelling pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Officers with the Lexington Police Department responded to an off-campus home just blocks from the university on Aug. 27, following a call about a deceased baby in a closet, according to an arrest report obtained by PEOPLE. The report indicates the call did not come from Snelling, who was not home when officers arrived.

The newborn was discovered wrapped in a towel inside a trash bag along with cleaning supplies. Officers located Snelling shortly afterward and took her into custody. According to the report, she allegedly admitted to giving birth, placing the baby in the trash, and requested medical assistance.

An autopsy could not determine the newborn’s cause of death, and the medical examiner noted additional testing would be necessary.

After her arrest, Snelling was held at the Fayette County Detention Center until Sept. 2, when a judge allowed her to be placed on house arrest at her family home in Tennessee after posting a $100,000 surety bond.

At that time, Snelling also chose to withdraw from the University of Kentucky, a school spokesperson told PEOPLE. Previously, she had been a member of the school’s STUNT team, which finished as runners-up at last year’s NCAA competition.