A young woman who was a former University of Kentucky cheerleader is facing serious charges after her flatmates made a disturbing discovery. Laken Snelling, 21, allegedly gave birth to a baby boy in her bedroom in the early hours of August 27. Her roommates reportedly heard noises from her room at the time. Snelling admitted to police that she briefly stayed awake after giving birth but then passed out, unintentionally falling asleep on top of the infant.
When she awoke, Snelling found the baby showing signs of distress and believed he had passed away. She wrapped the baby in a towel and placed him on the floor next to her for comfort before falling asleep again and waking up to her alarm at 7:30 am. Subsequently, she placed the baby and the placenta in a towel and a black bin bag, respectively, and hid them in her wardrobe.
Despite these actions, Snelling carried on with her day as usual, even ordering food from McDonald’s and attending a student clinic without seeking medical help. It wasn’t until her flatmates entered her room and discovered evidence of childbirth that authorities were alerted.
Police investigations revealed that Snelling had made suspicious internet searches related to pregnancy and had deleted images of herself in labor from her phone. Additionally, during a visit to the University of Kentucky Labour and Delivery Unit, she mentioned hearing the baby whimper but claimed she thought he was still alive.
Snelling pleaded not guilty to the charges against her and was released on bail with the condition of house arrest. She recently waived her right to a preliminary hearing in court, signaling her intent to proceed with the legal process.