The Tragic Case of Laken Snelling: From University Cheerleader to Life-Altering Crisis
Just months before a shocking discovery would change her life forever, 21-year-old Laken Snelling was performing with the University of Kentucky’s STUNT team at the National Championship in Nashville. Footage from April shows the talented cheerleader executing complex routines – being hoisted into the air by teammates, flipping fellow performers, and serving as the base for challenging stunts. Despite the team’s ultimate loss to California Baptist University (106-75), Snelling appeared to be a dedicated athlete in her element, performing alongside her teammates on a national stage. There was no indication then of the personal crisis that would unfold in her life just a few months later, leading to her eventual withdrawal from both the university and its STUNT program before the fall semester began on August 25.
In early August, authorities in Lexington made a devastating discovery that would thrust Snelling into headlines for the most heartbreaking of reasons. Police found a deceased newborn infant “wrapped in a towel inside a black trash bag” hidden in a closet at an off-campus residence. The baby was pronounced dead at the scene, though an autopsy later determined the cause of death to be inconclusive. According to police reports, Snelling admitted to concealing the birth by cleaning up evidence and placing the supplies in the same black trash bag as the newborn. The circumstances surrounding the pregnancy, birth, and the events that followed remain unclear, including who reported the situation to authorities. These tragic events have transformed what appeared to be a promising college experience into a profound personal tragedy with serious legal consequences.
The legal ramifications for Snelling have been swift and severe. She now faces multiple charges including concealing the birth of an infant, tampering with physical evidence, and abuse of a corpse – all charges to which she has pleaded not guilty. Following her August 31 arrest, Snelling was released on a $100,000 bond with conditions requiring house arrest at her parents’ home in Tennessee until her next court appearance scheduled for September 26. The case has sent shockwaves through the university community and beyond, raising questions about the circumstances that might lead a young woman to such desperate actions and highlighting issues surrounding pregnancy support, mental health resources for college students, and awareness of safe haven laws that allow newborns to be surrendered safely and legally.
The personal relationships in Snelling’s life have also come under scrutiny as authorities work to understand the full circumstances of the case. Her former boyfriend, 21-year-old Izaiah Hall, has provided a DNA sample to determine if he is the father of the infant. Hall’s father, Justin Smith, confirmed to reporters that “Lexington police had him come down to the station to give a sample,” though he declined to provide additional information, stating, “I don’t know anything on this and we don’t know if Izaiah is the father or not.” Hall, who reportedly played basketball for King University and Tusculum University in Tennessee, appeared in several posts on Snelling’s social media accounts in the months before her arrest. The timeline of their relationship remains unclear, and Hall appears to have deleted his social media accounts following Snelling’s arrest, suggesting the intense personal toll this situation has taken on all involved.
This case echoes other tragic situations where young people, particularly college students, have found themselves overwhelmed by unexpected pregnancies and lacking adequate support systems or knowledge of available resources. Though the specific circumstances of Snelling’s situation are still being investigated, her case highlights the critical importance of comprehensive reproductive health education, accessible healthcare services, confidential counseling resources, and awareness of legal options like safe haven laws that exist specifically to prevent such tragedies. Universities across the country offer various support services for students facing personal crises, but this case raises questions about whether these resources are sufficiently visible, accessible, and destigmatized for students in desperate situations.
As Snelling awaits her next court appearance, her life has dramatically transformed from that of a college cheerleader performing on national stages to a young woman facing serious criminal charges and life-altering consequences. The University of Kentucky community and Snelling’s former teammates are left to process this shocking turn of events, while the legal system works to determine accountability and justice in this heartbreaking case. Beyond the legal proceedings, this tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the hidden struggles many young people face and the devastating consequences that can result when individuals feel they have no safe options or support during personal crises. Whatever the ultimate legal outcome, the loss of a newborn life and the derailment of a young woman’s promising future represent a profound tragedy with ripple effects extending far beyond the individuals directly involved.
