Who Is Laken Snelling? Former Kentucky Cheerleader Sentenced to 10 Years in Newborn’s Death

Former University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the death of her newborn son. The 22-year-old received the sentence during a court hearing on Friday, October 16, 2026, following a plea agreement in the case.

Snelling pleaded guilty in August 2026 to first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant. Prosecutors had recommended a 13-year prison sentence as part of the plea agreement.

Laken Snelling Case: What Happened?

Snelling was arrested in August 2025 after her newborn son was found dead inside a trash bag in her closet. According to an arrest affidavit, her roommates became concerned after discovering blood in her room and hearing unusual noises. They subsequently contacted the police.

The Lexington Police Department determined that the infant died from asphyxiation. Following her arrest, Snelling told investigators that she had given birth in her bedroom and that the baby had fallen onto the floor.

Former Kentucky Cheerleader Laken Snelling Sentenced to 10 Years in Newborn Son’s Death

Former UK cheerleader who gave birth to a baby boy before killing him and stuffing him in a trash bag, sentenced to just 10 years in prison.

Laken Snelling, 22, admitted to ending the life of her newborn baby, saying she was "stressed."

The boy's grandparents spoke out about how crushed they were by their grandson's death.

"As a grandparent, you imagine the memories you’ll make with your grandchildren... You look forward to watching them grow and seeing the person they become," a woman who said the boy was called McCoy Cade Hall.

"For Cade, those possibilities were taken away before he ever had the chance to experience them."

The UK cheerleader admitted she deprived the baby of oxygen after the birth.

Snelling's roommates reportedly found the baby wrapped in a towel and stuffed in a trash bag in her closet after hearing "loud noises" coming from her room.

They said they suspected she may have been hiding a pregnancy.

During a court appearance in August, Snelling appeared to try to blame her decision to end her baby's life on the fact that she was "under a lot of emotional stress and my baby came unexpectedly."

Snelling pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing an infant's birth.

10 years is an absolute joke.

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 16, 2026

According to the affidavit, Snelling said she fell asleep on top of the infant around 30 minutes after giving birth. She claimed that when she woke up, the baby was turning blue and purple.

Laken Snelling Admits Responsibility in Court

During her court appearance, Snelling expressed remorse and acknowledged her responsibility for the newborn's death. According to reports, she said she was under considerable emotional stress when the baby arrived unexpectedly and admitted that she had failed to seek help.

She also acknowledged depriving the infant of oxygen, stating that she had ended his life.

Snelling withdrew from the University of Kentucky days after her arrest in August 2025. Before the case, she was a member of the university's competitive cheer STUNT team and had also participated in beauty pageants.

The case drew widespread attention following the discovery of the newborn's body and the subsequent criminal investigation. Snelling's sentencing concludes a significant stage in the legal proceedings following her guilty plea.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 18, 2026 01:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).