Kentucky cheerleader, 21, shows up to court in glam Barbie-pink outfit to plead not guilty to ‘hiding dead newborn in closet’
A Kentucky college cheerleader sported a hot pink dress and heavy make-up as she pleaded not guilty to hiding her dead newborn in a trash bag in her closet.
Laken Snelling, 21, was arrested on Saturday in Lexington and charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant.
The University of Kentucky senior was released on a $100,000 bond and ordered to home incarceration at her parents’ home in Jefferson City, Tennessee, as reported by NBC News.
Snelling, who was accompanied by her family, mostly kept her head down during the court appearance on Tuesday and nodded as the judge outlined her release conditions.
Her father was seen holding her hand as she walked out of the courtroom.
Police made the gruesome discovery on Wednesday after they were called to Snelling’s home for a report of ‘a deceased infant being located inside of a closet’ on Wednesday morning, officials said.
The baby was pronounced dead at the scene but a cause of death remains unclear pending an autopsy.
It’s not clear who called police to report the alleged crime.
Laken Snelling, 21, sported a pink dress and heavy make-up for her court appearance Tuesday. She is accused of hiding her dead newborn baby in a trash bag in her closet
The University of Kentucky senior was released on a $100,000 bond and ordered to home incarceration at her parents’ home in Tennessee
Snelling is a member of the University of Kentucky ‘stunt team,’ a competitive cheer program
An arrest citation said the ‘infant was located wrapped in a towel inside of a black trash bag.’
‘By wrapping the infant in towels and placing it inside of a black trash bag, the listed suspect treated the corpse in a way that would outrage ordinary family sensibilities,’ the police report said.’
Snelling admitted to concealing the birth by cleaning any evidence before hiding the supplies and the infant, who was wrapped in a towel, in a trash bag, according to the citation.
She is next scheduled in court on September 26.
The student, who allegedly admitted to giving birth to the baby before her arrest, posted images in June where her boyfriend held her stomach, which appeared to have a visible bump.
Other images posted on social media in recent months also showed Snelling with what appeared to be a stomach bump.
However it’s not clear if Snelling had announced a pregnancy to anyone.
Images posted on social media in recent months also showed Snelling with what appeared to be a stomach bump
Snelling was taken into custody on Saturday and charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant
Snelling (pictured) has used her account to share news of upcoming beauty pageants, captioning her latest post on June 11: ‘There is a pageant for EVERYONE!’
As previously reported, Snelling is a member of the University of Kentucky ‘stunt team,’ a competitive cheer program, according to the school’s athletics website.
‘We can confirm that she has been a member of the STUNT team for the last three seasons,’ the university said in a statement to LEX 18. ‘All other questions should be directed to the Lexington Police.’
Snelling is from White Pine, Tennessee, and was studying Interdisciplinary Disability Studies at the University of Kentucky.
A near-total abortion ban has been in effect in Kentucky since 2022, with no exceptions for rape or incest.
The ban only permits abortion to prevent the ‘substantial risk of death’ or to prevent the ‘serious, permanent impairment of a life-sustaining organ’ of the pregnant person.
