- Sport Tickets. Get the best tickets for sports events and more at Tickets MARCA
- NCAA. How to watch March Madness 2026: TV Channel and streaming guide for the NCAA tournaments
- NCAA. Who will replace Kim Mulkey when she leaves LSU? There is a clear candidate
Cheerleaders often enjoy their role on the sidelines while games unfold, encouraging their teammates who are giving their best effort on the field in pursuit of victory in the world of college sports.
Their presence is usually warmly received by fans attending stadiums, as they add excitement and help maintain energy among supporters who continue cheering for their team, especially during difficult moments when the scoreboard does not favor them.
However, there are times when cheerleaders find themselves at the center of controversy, and not necessarily because of a failed routine or a misstep during a performance.
This is the unusual case of Laken Snelling, who is now a former athlete and former cheerleader at the University of Kentucky. Unfortunately, she became involved in a serious legal situation that could result in a lengthy prison sentence of up to 20 years.
The charges against Laken Snelling
Snelling was charged with first-degree manslaughter and several additional offenses. The circumstances surrounding the case are severe. Her infant baby was found dead inside a closet in 2025.
These are the full charges filed against the young woman:
- First-degree manslaughter
- Abuse of a corpse
- Tampering with physical evidence
- Concealing the birth of an infant
They were given the information about homicide, the four levels of homicide, and then deliberated and decided that manslaughter, first degree, was the charge that should come out of the grand jury.
Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney Kimberly Baird told WKYT.
The former athlete and cheerleader had been part of the university community. Now, at 21 years old, she faces these charges after allegedly hiding the birth of the infant and placing the baby inside a closet. She was taken into custody in August 2025.
Police responded to a call related to the death of the baby and the discovery of the body in the previously described location. Authorities later indicated that the body had been found:
Wrapped in a towel inside a black trash bag.
The former cheerleader told police that she fainted after giving birth to the baby and that when she regained consciousness, she was lying on top of the infant. She claimed the child had already turned blue and purple. According to Snelling, she believed the baby had died, which is why she wrapped the infant in a towel to provide what she described as "comfort."
She later told her roommates that she was going to see a doctor, but instead she went to eat at a McDonald's and never attended a medical appointment. Investigators later found photos on her phone that documented parts of her labor.
At the time of her arrest, Snelling was in her final year at the university. If she is ultimately found guilty in court, the former student could face a prison sentence that exceeds 20 years, a punishment that would dramatically alter the course of her life and the future that once appeared promising.