A 21-year-old University of Kentucky student and self-styled beauty queen, Laken Snelling, faces serious charges after admitting to concealing her dead newborn’s body in a closet, raising concerns among pro-life advocates about the sanctity of life and the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death.
Snelling, a senior studying interdisciplinary disability studies and a member of the university’s competitive cheerleading squad, was arrested on Aug. 27, following the discovery of her deceased newborn.
Lexington police responded to a call on Park Avenue regarding an unresponsive infant, where they found the baby “wrapped in a towel inside of a trash bag” in a closet, according to an arrest citation made public on Monday.
The infant was pronounced dead at the scene just after 10:30 a.m.
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Snelling, identified as the child’s mother, admitted to officers that she gave birth and attempted to conceal the evidence after being read her rights, authorities said.
Snelling, originally from White Pine, Tennessee, was charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. She is currently detained at the Fayette County Detention Center.
The case has drawn significant attention, particularly from pro-life groups, who view the incident as a tragic example of the need for greater support for pregnant women and the protection of unborn and newborn life.
Kentucky’s protective abortion laws, in place since the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, protect unborn babies. Pro-life advocates argue that this case underscores the importance of providing resources and counseling to young women facing unplanned pregnancies to prevent such outcomes.
The incident has sparked further scrutiny after alleged maternity photos of Snelling, reportedly taken from her now-deactivated Instagram account, went viral on social media. The images, showing her in a white dress alongside a man presumed to be her boyfriend, have fueled public speculation, though their authenticity has not been officially confirmed.
In a June video posted to her Instagram, Snelling expressed her life goals, stating she wanted “to be a mother and have a family,” according to reports.
Snelling’s involvement in the University of Kentucky’s STUNT team and her participation in pageants, where she built a personal brand around athletics and lifestyle content, has added to the public’s shock. The university confirmed Snelling is a currently enrolled senior but has not commented further on her status with the cheerleading team.
The investigation remains ongoing, with Lexington police continuing to examine the circumstances of the infant’s death. Pro-life advocates are calling for compassion and justice, urging society to address the root causes that lead to such tragedies while reaffirming their commitment to protecting life at all stages.
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Author: Steven Ertelt
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