US News
Former University of Kentucky student pleads guilty in death of newborn found in closet
Laken Snelling admitted to suffocating her infant son following an unexpected birth and faces up to 10 years in prison.
The short version
- Former University of Kentucky student Laken Snelling pleaded guilty to charges related to the death of her newborn baby.
- Snelling admitted in court that she deprived the infant of oxygen following an unexpected delivery in August 2025.
- Lexington police had previously discovered the child's body in a trash bag inside a closet.
- Snelling now faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
Key facts
- Laken Snelling, a 22-year-old former University of Kentucky student-athlete, changed her plea to guilty in Fayette County court on charges stemming from her newborn son's death.[Fox News]
- In court, Snelling stated under questioning that she ended the baby's life by depriving him of oxygen after giving birth unexpectedly under severe emotional distress.[Fox News]
- Police in Lexington found the infant's remains concealed in a trash bag inside a closet on August 27, 2025.[Fox News]
- Snelling was previously indicted on charges including first-degree manslaughter, concealing the birth of an infant, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with physical evidence, and she faces up to 10 years in prison.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- The exact terms of the final plea agreement and the official sentencing date were not detailed in the reporting.[Fox News]