A former student-athlete at University of Kentucky has been indicted in connection with the death of a newborn whose remains were discovered in her home last year.
Laken Snelling, 21, was indicted by a Fayette County Grand Jury on charges of first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant.
The indictment stems from an Aug. 27 incident when officers with the Lexington Police Department responded to a report of a deceased infant at a residence in the 400 block of Park Avenue near downtown Lexington, Kentucky.
Authorities said roommates discovered the infant’s body wrapped in bags inside a closet after noticing signs that a birth had occurred. Police said the baby was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to investigators, Snelling told officers she gave birth in her bedroom around 4 a.m. and the baby fell to the floor. She said she believed the baby was not breathing. About 30 minutes later, she said she passed out and fell on top of the infant.
When she regained consciousness, Snelling told police the baby appeared to be turning blue and purple. She said she wrapped the child in a towel and lay next to him before later placing the body and cleaning materials inside a trash bag.
The Kentucky Office of the State Medical Examiner later determined the infant had been born alive and died from asphyxia, police said. The baby was identified as a full-term boy.
Snelling, who was a senior studying interdisciplinary disability at the time, had been a member of the university’s STUNT team, a women’s sport derived from competitive cheerleading.
After leaving the home that morning, police said Snelling drove to campus but remained in her car because she felt unwell. She later went to the student health clinic but did not enter the facility.
Snelling was initially arrested the same day on charges including concealing the birth of an infant, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse. The manslaughter charge was added after further testing and the grand jury indictment.
Since her arrest, Snelling has been out on bond and staying with family in White Pine, Tennessee. Authorities have not yet announced when she will return to Kentucky to face the new charges.