The uncertain reason behind the demise of a newborn discovered in the wardrobe of a University of Kentucky athlete remains undetermined.
Lexington, Kentucky - A 21-year-old senior at the University of Kentucky, Laken Snelling, has been accused of hiding the death of a newborn baby boy in a black trash bag in her closet. The baby's body was found wrapped in a towel last weekend.
Authorities were dispatched to Snelling's home in Lexington on Wednesday. She was arrested on Sunday and pleaded not guilty to charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.
The preliminary autopsy results for the baby are inconclusive, and the cause of death has not yet been determined. The coroner said on Wednesday that there would be no additional information released until his investigation continues.
Snelling, a member of the university's STUNT team, told officers that she had given birth and tried to conceal the evidence of the birth. Her attorney, Brandon Marshall, declined to comment on the case.
Since Snelling's arrest, the University of Kentucky has said little about the case. The university is not providing further details about the incident. Snelling's court appearance was on Tuesday, and she said little to her attorney during the hearing.
It is unclear if Snelling knew she was pregnant when she gave birth, as abortion has been illegal in Kentucky since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.
Snelling was released Tuesday on a $100,000 bond and placed on house arrest at her parents' home in Jefferson City, Tennessee. Her location of house arrest is in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
Richard Vance, another one of Snelling's attorneys, has not made any comments on the case. The authorities have not released any further details about the investigation. Snelling's next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 26.
