Kentucky athlete who allegedly hid dead newborn in closet once posted about wanting babies
Share and Follow

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

A University of Kentucky athlete who allegedly hid her dead newborn baby inside a closet once shared that she dreamed of being a mother, according to one of her social media posts.

Officers with the Lexington Police Department took 21-year-old Laken Snelling into custody Sunday after they responded to an unreponsive infant, who was “pronounced deceased at the scene,” officials said in a statement. Police said Snelling was the infant’s mother.

In Snelling’s latest TikTok post from June 25, she indicated a desire to raise a child as a life goal. She included an emoji of a mother holding her baby under a list of “goals,” which included a family, money, house and cash. 

University of Kentucky entrance

A sign for one of the entrances to the University of Kentucky campus. (Getty Images)

Snelling is a senior at the University of Kentucky and a member of the STUNT team, according to a university spokesperson. The university describes STUNT as a “head-to-head competition between two teams that focuses on the technical and athletic aspects of cheer,” which is “one of the fastest-growing female sports in the United States.”

Snelling also “admitted to giving birth,” the police document indicated.

University of Kentucky campus, students walking

Pedestrians walk along Rose Street on the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington, Ky., on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. (Getty Images)

Snelling was released from jail on a $100,000 bond, but was placed on house arrest.

Fox News Digital reached out to Snelling’s attorney for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman contributed to this report.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
LA sex assault caught on camera, homeless suspect flees

Surveillance Footage Captures LA Sexual Assault; Authorities Seek Homeless Suspect

A disturbing incident unfolded near the Los Angeles Convention Center, where a…
Bodycam shows 'Slender Man' stabber captured by police after escaping group home

Attorney Advocates for Slender Man Stabbing Defendant’s Transfer Back to Mental Health Facility Following Jail Escape: Report

The legal representative for the woman involved in the infamous 2014 Slender…
Grainy tape may solve the mystery of the 'Lost Boys of Pickering'

Unveiling the Mystery: How Grainy Tape Could Crack the Decades-Old ‘Lost Boys of Pickering’ Case

More than three decades ago, a small suburban city witnessed the mysterious…
University of Delaware student accused of 'frightening' plot to attack campus police

Disturbing Campus Plot Uncovered: University of Delaware Student Arrested in Attack Scheme on Police

A University of Delaware student has been arrested and now faces both…
Hillary Clinton blames social media for radicalizing young Americans against Israel

Hillary Clinton Attributes Youth Radicalization Against Israel to Social Media Influence

Hillary Clinton has attributed the rise in anti-Israel sentiment among young Americans…
Jacksonville man sentenced to 270 years for producing, distributing child sexual abuse images

Jacksonville Resident Receives 270-Year Sentence for Child Exploitation and Distribution of Illegal Images

On August 12, 2025, Joshua Davis was convicted for his involvement in…
FBI agents yanked off spy cases as Trump pumps brake on crackdown

Trump Administration Slows FBI Spy Investigations, Redirecting Agents to New Priorities

An FBI agent, deeply engrossed in probing the connections among a Chinese…
Inside Prince Harry's cringeworthy VIP guest appearance in Canada

Prince Harry’s Uncomfortable VIP Moment in Canada: What Really Happened?

Anticipation ran high as Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, prepared to…