Overview

• Lexington police found a newborn wrapped in a towel inside a black trash bag at a residence on the 400 block of Park Avenue, where the infant was pronounced dead at the scene around 10:30 a.m.
• Laken Snelling, 21, was arrested on August 27 and, after being read her rights, admitted she had given birth, concealed the infant, and placed cleaning items and the baby in the bag, according to the arrest citation.
• She faces accusations of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealment of an infant's birth.
• The Fayette County Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy on August 29, with the cause of death not yet determined, and the Lexington Police Special Victims Section continues to investigate.
• Snelling is held at the Fayette County Detention Center, and the University of Kentucky confirmed she was on the STUNT team for three seasons as reporting situates the case within the state's near‑total abortion ban in effect since 2022.