A heartbreaking story out of Kentucky has left many families stunned and saddened.
Police say 21-year-old University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling was arrested on August 31 after officers discovered her deceased newborn hidden in a closet at an off-campus residence. According to a police report, the baby was “wrapped in a towel inside of a black trash bag” and “pronounced deceased at the scene.”
Snelling, a senior at the university and a member of the STUNT cheerleading team, “admitted to giving birth” when interviewed by investigators, local outlet Lex18 reported. The Fayette County Coroner’s Office is still reviewing the cause of death.
What shocked many even more was what Snelling had recently posted online. In her last TikTok video on June 25, she listed her “goals” for life—using emojis of a wedding ring, house, cash, and a mother holding a baby. She had publicly written that being a mom was one of her dreams.
But in the days since her arrest, social media has been flooded with disbelief and anger. “Goal to be a mother but [kills] her baby??” one commenter wrote. Another added, “You can’t tell me this girl didn’t have options…”
Kentucky has banned nearly all abortions since 2022, including in cases of rape and incest. Still, many commenters pointed out that there are safe and legal alternatives for women who feel unable to parent a newborn.
“I know that Kentucky has absolutely no abortion clinics in this entire state however, there was a baby box less than 10 minutes away from where this happened,” one woman wrote. “She could’ve took her baby there anonymously. Or to any fire station hospital, etc.. truly heartbreaking.”
Kentucky’s “safe haven” laws allow infants to be surrendered at fire stations, hospitals, or designated “baby boxes” without penalty, giving desperate parents a chance to protect their child while walking away anonymously.
Snelling was initially booked into the Fayette County Detention Center and charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. Later reports confirmed she was released on a $100,000 bond but placed under house arrest.
The University of Kentucky described Snelling’s STUNT team as a “head-to-head competition between two teams that focuses on the technical and athletic aspects of cheer,” calling it “one of the fastest-growing female sports in the United States.”
For now, both the university and community are grappling with grief and shock. As one commenter said, the entire situation feels “truly heartbreaking.” Families are reminded of the importance of awareness around safe haven laws and the support systems available for mothers in crisis.
