Laken Snelling, Former Kentucky Cheerleader, Pleads Guilty in Newborn Son’s Death

Laken Snelling, 22, a former member of the University of Kentucky cheerleading and STUNT team, has pleaded guilty in connection with the death of her newborn son.

Snelling changed her plea to guilty on August 21, 2026, admitting to first-degree manslaughter as well as charges involving abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.

The case dates back to August 2025, when a newborn boy was found dead at an off-campus residence. Authorities discovered the baby wrapped in a towel and placed inside a black plastic bag in a closet.

During the court proceedings, Snelling admitted that she had “deprived him of oxygen” and acknowledged that she did not provide aid to the baby after giving birth.

She had previously pleaded not guilty in April 2026 before changing her plea several months later.

Snelling is scheduled to be sentenced on October 16, 2026. The case has drawn widespread attention because of her background as a University of Kentucky athlete and the circumstances surrounding the newborn’s death.

Source: Oxygen