Overview
- On Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, Laken Snelling withdrew earlier not-guilty pleas, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and three related counts, and waived her right to a trial with sentencing set for Oct. 16.
- In court she admitted she deprived the newborn of oxygen, said she cleaned up after an unassisted birth and placed the infant and towels in a plastic bag that roommates later found on Aug. 27, 2025.
- The Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office concluded the baby was born alive and died of asphyxia by undetermined means, a finding cited in the grand jury indictment and court filings.
- Prosecutors have recommended a 10-year term for the manslaughter conviction plus one-year terms for abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and concealing the birth, and the judge ordered a presentence report to decide whether sentences run concurrently or consecutively.
- Snelling had been free on a $100,000 bond since her arrest, resigned from the University of Kentucky STUNT team after charges were filed, and the upcoming sentence will determine her custody status and long-term consequences for her education and work prospects.