Discovery of Cheerleader’s Deceased Infant in Closet Adds Complexity to Ongoing Investigation

The enigma surrounding the demise of a newborn, discovered in his cheerleader mother’s closet, has intensified as his autopsy results proved inconclusive, according to authorities.

Laken Snelling, a 21-year-old student at the University of Kentucky, was taken into custody after police discovered her newborn son inside a trash bag in her Lexington residence closet.

The Fayette County Coroner’s Office mentioned in the autopsy report that they plan to perform ‘comprehensive microcosmic analyses’ to ascertain the cause and manner of the infant’s death.

‘I understand the community’s concern and sensitivity surrounding the death of a child. This death affects many lives in our neighboring state of Tennessee and as well as those in the Commonwealth. 

‘We are currently conducting a thorough and methodical death investigation to ensure all facts are carefully considered.’

Snelling 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. 

She pleaded not guilty to charges abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant.

Fayette County Coroner Gary W. Ginn told Daily Mail on Thursday that further microscopic analyses would involve taking tissue from the infant to further study it. Ginn said the brain would also be looked at by a neuroscientist. 

‘There’s a time frame that the tissue has to set before it can be examined just grossly as well as microscopically. So that adds time to our final autopsy report,’ the coroner said. 

He added: ‘A lot of times when you look at the brain, as well as the bony structures, the skull, the dura mater, all those things with the naked eye when the autopsy is being performed, you might be able to see that there are injuries. But until you look at the brain microscopically, you might look at the structures and not really think that there might be the injuries — that there could be internal hemorrhaging or something of that nature of the brain. So, it has to be looked at more microscopically than just grossly with the naked eye.’

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. 

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.