The phone records of former University of Kentucky competitive cheerleader Laken Snelling give a glimpse into her mindset before she was arrested for hiding the body of her infant in a closet.
According to records obtained from the Fayette County District Court by WKYT-TV on Friday, September 26, Snelling, 21, searched “concealed or hidden pregnancy” in the time leading up to her allegedly giving birth and stuffing the infant’s body in a trash bag.
Snelling’s phone showed other searches pertaining to pregnancy and also included pictures of her during labor.
Some of the photos of Snelling giving birth were deleted, according to the records, which led Lexington Police to theorize “other items could have also been deleted in an attempt to hide any evidence of the pregnancy, birth and newborn baby.”
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Snelling was arrested on August 30 and charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant.
Lexington Police received a call from a third party on August 27, reporting an infant that was “cold to the touch” was found in a closet at their Lexington residence.
The “infant was located wrapped in a towel inside of a black trash bag,” according to an arrest citation.
When she was questioned by authorities, Snelling “admitted to giving birth” and to “concealing the birth by cleaning any evidence, placing all cleaning items used inside of a black trash bag, including the infant, who was wrapped in a towel.”
Snelling pleaded not guilty to all charges during a September 2 court hearing and was released on $100,000 bond to live on house arrest with her parents in Tennessee.
The cheerleader was back in a Lexington courtroom on Friday, when she waived her right to a preliminary trial.
Standing next to her attorney and wearing all black, Snelling softly said, “Yes,” when the judge asked if she was willing to waive her right.
Snelling’s case now proceeds to a grand jury.
The infant’s cause of death was ruled inconclusive and “extensive microscopic analyses are essential to determine the cause and manner of death,” according to a report from the Fayette County Coroner’s Office obtained by Us Weekly on September 4.
“I understand the community’s concern and sensitivity surrounding the death of a child,” Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn said in the report. “We are conducting a thorough and methodical death investigation to ensure all facts are carefully considered.”
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A spokesperson for the Lexington Police Department told Us on September 8 that the investigation into the baby’s death remains “ongoing.”
Snelling was enrolled at the University of Kentucky and a member of the school’s STUNT cheerleading team at the time of her arrest.
A spokesperson for the school told Us on September 6 that Snelling is no longer a student at the university or on the STUNT team.
“We can confirm that she has been a member of the STUNT team for the last three seasons,” the University of Kentucky said in a statement. “All other questions should be directed to the Lexington Police.”
