LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A former University of Kentucky student athlete charged in the death of her newborn baby appeared in court Friday.
Laken Snelling, 22, pleaded not guilty to a manslaughter charge issued by a Fayette County Grand Jury on March 11.
Authorities arrested Snelling in August 2025 after investigators reportedly discovered the remains of a baby boy in a trash bag inside a closet.
According to reports, Snelling told medical staff at UK that the baby “whimpered” after birth and that she fell asleep on top of it. She said she believed the baby had died and then wrapped it in a towel and placed it in a trash bag. Investigators said the baby appeared to be full term.
Police said the grand jury added the manslaughter charge after the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office determined the baby was born alive and died from “asphyxia by undetermined means.”
Snelling previously pleaded not guilty in September 2025 to charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.
She has remained on house arrest at her father’s home in Tennessee with an electronic monitor after posting a $10,000 bond last year.
Following the March 11 indictment, authorities arrested Snelling again and returned her to Kentucky, where she posted another $10,000 cash bond, according to FOX56.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 14, with a status hearing set for June 12.
About the Author
