A FORMER college cheerleader has confessed to killing her newborn and trying to hide his body inside a trash bag in her closet.

Laken Snelling, 22, pleaded guilty in court on Friday to multiple charges stemming from the sick concealment and faces over a decade behind bars.

Laken Snelling admitting to killing her newborn baby

Snelling now faces at least 10 years in jail

Snelling was accused of concealing the birth and placing the baby’s body inside a closet after being arrested in August 2025.

She pleaded her innocence last April, but during the court proceedings, Snelling admitted that she “ended” her baby’s life “instead of helping him” and placed his body in a plastic bag.

The 22-year-old pleaded guilty in court on Friday to first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.

Prosecutors recommended a sentence of 10 years for manslaughter, one year for abuse of a corpse, one year for tampering with physical evidence, and 12 months for concealing the birth of an infant.

The cheerleader was first arrested last year after her newborn son was found dead inside a closet at her home.

According to police records, Snelling admitted to giving birth and then attempting to conceal the delivery by cleaning up evidence.

Investigators said she placed the cleaning materials, along with the infant wrapped in a towel, inside a black trash bag.

Court documents state that Snelling told investigators she had passed out on top of the baby following the birth.

A search of her phone also reportedly found that she had searched for terms related to “concealed or hidden pregnancy” before giving birth.

According to the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office, the newborn was born alive. His cause of death was determined to be asphyxia by undetermined means, WLKY reported.

Snelling was released several days after her arrest on a $100,000 bond and ordered to remain under home incarceration without an ankle monitor.

Snelling initially faced charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant. A grand jury later added a first-degree manslaughter charge.

The 22-year-old was emotional in court on Friday when her guilty verdict was delivered

Snelling was a cheerleader at the University of Kentucky

Following her arrest, Snelling left the University of Kentucky, where she had been a member of the school’s STUNT team.

Snelling, who majored in interdisciplinary disability studies, is no longer enrolled at the university, a spokesperson for the institution told The U.S. Sun.

The university representative also confirmed that she was no longer a member of the stunt team.

It remains unclear whether Snelling was dismissed from the university or left voluntarily.

Source: https://www.the-sun.com/news/16875052/laken-snelling-pleads-guilty-manslaughter/