Kentucky cheerleader dressed as pregnant woman for Halloween — months before newborn found dead
University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling was photographed dressed as a pregnant woman for Halloween — about 10 months before a dead infant was found in her closet. Facebook/Abby Blabby- True Crime & News
Laken Snelling, a 21-year-old former cheerleader at the University of Kentucky, was arrested on August 31 after a deceased newborn was discovered inside a trash bag in a closet at her off-campus apartment in Lexington.
Less than a year earlier, in October, Snelling had appeared in a Halloween costume resembling a pregnant woman. Social media photos showed her wearing a fake baby bump and a pin that read “Kentucky Mom.” The images were originally shared by the university’s STUNT team but were later removed following news of her arrest, according to true crime content creator Abby Blabby on TikTok.
Authorities say Snelling admitted to giving birth to the infant and later attempting to conceal the birth. She allegedly placed the baby, along with used birth-related supplies, into a black trash bag and hid it in her closet. The exact circumstances of the birth, including how far along she was in the pregnancy, remain unclear. An autopsy did not determine a definitive cause of death for the child.
Snelling had previously referenced a desire to become a mother in past social media posts. Publicly available footage showed her actively participating in cheerleading routines as recently as April.
It is not yet known who reported the incident to authorities, nor has the identity of the baby’s father been confirmed. Snelling’s former boyfriend, Izaiah Hall, provided a DNA sample to determine paternity, his father told The New York Post. Another individual, Conner Jordan, was featured in some of Snelling’s social media posts in the months before her arrest.
Following her arrest, Snelling was charged with multiple offenses, including abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges. After posting a $100,000 bond, she was released from jail and placed on house arrest at her parents’ home in Tennessee.
Snelling has since withdrawn from the university and stepped down from the cheerleading team. Her next court appearance is scheduled for September 26.
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