Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Former University of Kentucky student laken snelling was handed a 10-year prison sentence on Friday after previously entering a guilty plea. Local media and court reports confirmed the penalty stems from the death of her newborn infant. During her court appearance, the father of the baby also spoke out during the sentencing proceedings.
Investigation and Arrest by Lexington Police
The case began unfolding in August 2025 when roommates reported hearing loud noises coming from a closet. Officers from the Lexington Police Department responded to the scene and discovered the newborn cold to the touch inside a trash bag placed in the closet. City officials released statements detailing the grim discovery.
According to findings from the Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office, the baby was born alive and ultimately died from asphyxiation. When Judge Diane Minnifield questioned Snelling in court regarding how she ended the child's life, she stated that she deprived him of oxygen.
Guilty Plea and Court Testimony
Snelling entered her guilty plea in August after being indicted earlier in March on a count of manslaughter alongside three additional charges. In addition to first-degree manslaughter, she pleaded guilty to abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.
Speaking through tears in court, the 22-year-old explained that she experienced significant emotional stress when the baby arrived unexpectedly. She recounted to investigators that she remained awake for roughly 30 minutes following the birth before passing out on top of the infant. Upon waking, she noticed the child turning blue and purple, subsequently cleaning up the area and failing to alert anyone.
Background and Evidence
School officials verified that Snelling was a senior at the University of Kentucky at the time. Court documents further revealed that she had deleted pregnancy-related evidence and photographs of her labor from her mobile device following the incident.
Sources: Fox News, People.com, WKYT.
