Horror discovery — Kentucky STUNT Team Member Arrested After Allegedly Concealing Dead Baby in Closet

An emergency call to a quiet Lexington neighborhood turned into a case of tragedy, secrecy, and disturbing allegations with a college cheer athlete at its center.

Laken Snelling, a 21-year-old student at the University of Kentucky and a known member of the school's STUNT team, is facing multiple felony charges after officers discovered the lifeless body of a newborn allegedly hidden inside her home.

The horrifying revelations have not only shaken her college community but also stirred outrage and heartbreak across social media.

Unresponsive Infant Found in Closet

On the morning of August 27, 2025, several officers responded to a chilling report on the 400 block of Park Avenue. An unconscious infant was inside a residence. Tragically, authorities found and declared the baby dead at the scene.

Just days later, on August 31, Snelling was formally arrested. Police confirmed she is the biological mother of the deceased child, and she was slapped with serious charges: abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.

Infant Was Concealed

According to a recently released arrest citation from September 1, responding officers were summoned after reports of "a deceased infant being located inside of a closet."

After being read her rights, Snelling gave a chilling confession: she had given birth to the infant, and then, she "admitted to concealing the birth by cleaning any evidence, placing all cleaning items used inside of a black trash bag, including the infant, who was wrapped in a towel."

Released on Bond

Snelling was initially booked into the Fayette County Detention Center, but was released on a $100,000 bond on Tuesday, September 2, after pleading not guilty during a court hearing in downtown Lexington.

She is now under home incarceration, but with no ankle monitor, and is currently living with her parents in Tennessee. Her next court appearance is set for September 26.

The official cause of death will be determined by the Fayette County Coroner's Office, and Lexington Police say the Special Victims Section is still investigating.

Authorities are asking anyone with information to call (859) 258-3600, or submit anonymous tips at (859) 253-2020 or online.

College Athlete and TikToker

The University of Kentucky has acknowledged Snelling's involvement with their STUNT team in a public statement, confirming she had been on the roster for several seasons. The school is now referring all further questions to local authorities.

Despite the arrest, Snelling's name and face remain on the official team website, wearing jersey number 15 for the Wildcats.

But there's more — Snelling also cultivated a presence on TikTok, amassing over 10,000 followers. Her posts painted a picture of a normal college student, but now, viewers are revisiting those clips with fresh horror and heartbreak.

Chilling Posts Resurface as Social Media Reacts

Her last TikTok post, dated June 25, is now under intense scrutiny. It showed a picture of Snelling with a myriad of emojis depicting aspects of her personality and plans for the future. Under the word "goals" was an emoji of a mother holding a baby.

Even more disturbing: On June 18, just a week earlier, she had posted a carousel of romantic images from what looked like a professional photo session with an unknown partner. After her arrest hit the news, netizens flocked to the comments, searching for answers.

One person asked, "I'm confused these look like a maternity shoot what did everyone think happen to the baby? What was her mental state to Do what she did [sic]?" Another echoed, "I'm confused these look like maternity photos, what was the motive to do that??"

Someone else wrote, "Yeah, I don't think college-aged couples just 'do' photoshops bc they're, like, happy and loving life [sic]. 😔"

Another commenter went digging and expressed, "Found her on Facebook and in pictures you can definitely tell she is pregnant, sad part is I found her mom as well and she made a birthday post.. like how did her mom or her mamaw not stop her from doing what she did!! You can't tell me her family didn't know!! 😞 that poor baby [sic]!"

We offer our condolences to those affected by this tragedy.