Kentucky cheerleader gets 10-year prison sentence in closet newborn death case

Former University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the death of her newborn son, whose body was discovered hidden in a closet in her off-campus apartment.

The 22-year-old was sentenced on Friday in Fayette County Circuit Court. Prosecutors recommended the 10-year term as part of a plea agreement.

The court heard that Snelling gave birth to a baby boy on August 27, 2025, before suffocating him in a panic. She later admitted that she had ended her son’s life rather than seeking help.

During her guilty plea in August 2026, Snelling told the court she had been under significant emotional stress when the baby arrived unexpectedly.

“Instead of helping him, I ended his life,” she said, adding that she had deprived him of oxygen before cleaning up and telling no one.

Judge Diane Minnifield told Snelling that she would have considerable time in prison to reflect on her actions. The judge described the crime as an act of violence that had taken the life of an innocent baby.

“This loneliness, this just now in the pit of your stomach, it's never going to go away. You're going to have to find ways to live with it and all of that's only going to come by God.,” said Minnifield .

The baby’s father, college quarterback Izaiah Hall , spoke briefly during the hearing and said he did not wish harm on Snelling . He reportedly named the infant McCoy Cade Hall.

The baby’s paternal grandmother also addressed the court, describing him as a healthy, beautiful boy who deserved the opportunity to grow up surrounded by love.

Snelling was arrested on August 30, 2025, three days after giving birth. According to court documents, her roommates became concerned after hearing unusual noises from her bedroom and noticing blood.

They subsequently discovered the newborn’s body inside a trash bag, wrapped in a towel and concealed in a closet. One roommate reportedly told police the baby was cold to the touch.

Prosecutors said Snelling cleaned the room after the birth and left the apartment to visit McDonald’s.

Initially, Snelling claimed the baby had been stillborn. She later told investigators that she had fallen asleep on top of the infant and awoke to find him turning blue and purple.

However, the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the baby had been born alive and died from asphyxia by undetermined means. This finding led to a first-degree manslaughter indictment in March 2026.

As part of her plea agreement, Snelling admitted manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant.

She had previously been placed under house arrest at her parents’ home in Tennessee and received 415 days of credit for time served under house arrest.

Snelling withdrew from the University of Kentucky following her arrest. She had been a member of the university’s competitive STUNT cheerleading team.