Laken Snelling: Grand Jury Date Set in Case of Former Beauty Queen Accused of Hiding Dead Baby in Closet

A grand jury is scheduled to hear evidence in the case of Laken Snelling, the former small-town beauty queen and University of Kentucky cheerleader accused in the death of her newborn, and will decide whether to issue an indictment.

Snelling, 22, is accused of giving birth in the bedroom of her off-campus home in Lexington, Kentucky, then placing the baby in a trash bag and hiding it in her closet.

She waived her right to a preliminary hearing during a Sept. 26 court appearance, sending the case directly to a grand jury.

Public updates have been limited since then, but a subpoena filed in the case indicates the grand jury is expected to hear evidence in late January. The filing — submitted in Fayette Circuit Court on Dec. 22 by Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Jessica Hutchins — seeks records from the University of Kentucky Medical Center.

That facility treated Snelling hours after she allegedly gave birth on Aug. 27 “to a baby which fell onto the floor of her bedroom,” according to a search warrant affidavit previously obtained. Police said the statement was made at the medical center during an interview with Snelling while she was hospitalized.

According to the affidavit, Snelling told investigators she gave birth overnight, fell asleep on the newborn, wrapped the baby in a towel, and placed the infant in a trash bag along with the placenta.

Investigators also alleged she cleaned the room afterward and left less than six hours later intending to go to class. Authorities say she never made it there, instead stopping for McDonald’s and returning home — where police were already waiting.

Police were called after roommates reported hearing noises from her room during the night and later noticing blood in the room the next morning, according to the affidavit. When officers arrived, they searched the closet and found the baby deceased.

Snelling was arrested and, on Sept. 2, pleaded not guilty to charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.

She was initially released on a $100,000 surety bond and allowed to leave Kentucky while on house arrest at both her mother’s and father’s homes in Tennessee. A judge later changed those conditions in late October for reasons that have not been explained in available filings.

Judge Melissa Moore Murphy later ordered that Snelling could stay only at her father’s residence and must wear an electronic monitor at all times, according to court documents previously obtained.

The grand jury is expected to consider indicting Snelling on the three charges she has already faced — and prosecutors could potentially pursue additional charges, including murder or manslaughter, depending on the newborn’s autopsy findings.

An initial autopsy was inconclusive on the cause and manner of death, and the Fayette County Coroner’s Office and Office of the State Medical Examiner have not publicly commented.