An ex-beauty pageant winner is facing upcoming charges for the alleged act of abandoning her infant in a trash bag while the baby was still alive. The 22-year-old, Laken Snelling, is set to be indicted on multiple counts, including first-degree manslaughter, following the discovery of her deceased newborn in a trash bag concealed in a closet within her residence. The infant’s autopsy revealed the cause of death as “asphyxia by undetermined means.”
Since October of the previous year, Snelling has been on pre-trial release staying at her father’s residence. The timing for the formal indictment with the charges has not been disclosed yet. The decision by the grand jury was influenced by reports that Snelling’s child was born alive. Authorities were initially alerted to the situation after finding a deceased baby in a closet at an off-campus residence near the University of Kentucky.
Concerned housemates of Snelling contacted law enforcement after hearing unusual sounds from her and discovering blood in her room. Upon arrival, officers found Snelling absent, as she had left for classes shortly after giving birth. After stopping at a McDonald’s and parking near a clinic, she returned home where she was apprehended and taken in for questioning. Following her arrest and medical evaluation at a local hospital, Snelling waived her Miranda Rights and spoke to the police.
According to statements made by Snelling to an officer, she recounted giving birth to her baby, who fell onto the bedroom floor at 4 am on that day. She claimed to have been awake for another 30 minutes before unintentionally falling on the baby and falling back asleep. The infant was described as turning blue and purple while she was asleep.
Snelling allegedly wrapped the newborn in a towel and held it close to herself on the bedroom floor, finding solace in the moment. After her arrest, Snelling was detained at the Fayette County Detention Center until September 2 before being placed under house arrest at her father’s home in Tennessee. She subsequently withdrew from the University of Kentucky, where she was a member of the STUNT cheerleading team.
Previously, Snelling had faced charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant in August 2025.