Laken Snelling Gets 10 Years for Infant's Death After Guilty Plea
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Oct 16
Laken Snelling Gets 10 Years for Infant's Death After Guilty Plea
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 16
Summary
A Kentucky judge sentenced former University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling, 22, to 10 years in prison after her guilty plea in the death of her newborn.
Court records said the infant was born alive and died of asphyxiation; when asked in court, Snelling said, "I deprived him of oxygen."
August 2025 police found the baby cold to the touch, wrapped in a trash bag in a closet after roommates reported loud noises, according to Lexington authorities.
Snelling also pleaded guilty to abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth after investigators said she deleted photos of her labor and other pregnancy evidence.
Snelling told the court she was under emotional stress and that the baby came unexpectedly, closing a case that began with her March indictment on manslaughter and related charges.