A haunting final post from a University of Kentucky cheerleader who hid a "dead newborn in a trash bag in a closet" has surfaced online.
Laken Snelling, 21, was apprehended by police after allegedly concealing the body of her baby in a closet, wrapped in a towel inside a black trash bag.
The grim discovery by local authorities in Lexington, Kentucky, where Snelling faces charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.
According to the Daily Mail, Lexington police were called to Snelling’s home on the 400 block of Park Avenue following reports of an unresponsive infant on Wednesday (August 27).
Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered the newborn's body and pronounced the infant dead at around 10:30AM.
The police report indicates that the student confessed to giving birth and then attempting to hide the evidence.
After being read her Miranda rights, Snelling allegedly admitted that she had cleaned up the area, placing all cleaning supplies, including the infant, into the black trash bag.
The cause of death has not been determined, with an autopsy pending by the Fayette County Coroner’s Office.
The tragic case has shocked many, especially after Snelling’s social media activity raised disturbing contradictions.
The university student shared a TikTok video just months before the incident, where she listed “having a baby” as one of her life goals, alongside getting married and owning a home.
The post, which resurfaced after her arrest, has sparked an outpouring of comments from users, with many mentioning Kentucky’s strict abortion laws, which took effect in 2022, and only allow abortion in cases where the pregnant person’s life is at "substantial risk" or to prevent serious, permanent harm to vital organs.
The ban does not include exceptions for rape or incest, which has led to heightened debate and scrutiny over reproductive rights in the state.
However, other users pointed out that the state offers places for unwanted newborns to be dropped off safely.
Snelling, originally from White Pine, Tennessee, had been a member of the University of Kentucky’s competitive cheer stunt team for the past three seasons.
"We can confirm that she has been a member of the STUNT team for the last three seasons," the university said in a statement. "All other questions should be directed to the Lexington Police."
As of Monday (September 1), she is being held at the Fayette County Detention Center and is set to make a preliminary court appearance following her arrest, though further details on her bond or custody status have not been released.
The charges she faces are classified as Class D felonies in Kentucky, carrying potential prison sentences of one to five years and fines of up to $10,000.
The Lexington Police Department’s Special Victims Section continues to investigate the case, and the community remains in shock over the tragic discovery.