Cheerleader Learns Her Fate After Murder of Newborn Son

A former University of Kentucky cheerleader has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after admitting she killed her newborn son and concealed his body inside a closet at her off-campus home.

Laken Snelling, 22, learned her fate Friday, October 16, more than a year after her roommates made the disturbing discovery at their Lexington, Kentucky, residence.

Snelling pleaded guilty in August to first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant.

During her plea hearing, the former college athlete acknowledged causing her baby’s death after unexpectedly giving birth alone.

“I was under a lot of emotional stress and my baby came unexpectedly,” Snelling told the court. “And instead of helping him I ended his life.”

She admitted depriving the newborn of oxygen before cleaning up the room and hiding what had happened.

The case began on August 27, 2025, when Snelling’s roommates became concerned after hearing unusual noises and noticing blood inside her bedroom.

Police responding to the residence discovered the infant, later identified as McCoy Cade Hall, wrapped in a towel inside a trash bag in her closet.

The baby was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later determined that he had been born alive and died from asphyxiation, or oxygen deprivation.

Investigators also uncovered evidence suggesting Snelling had concealed her pregnancy. Court documents indicated she had searched online for information about hidden pregnancies and deleted photographs taken during labor.

Snelling was a member of the University of Kentucky’s competitive STUNT team, a collegiate sport featuring cheerleading skills. She withdrew from the university following her arrest and had been free on a $100,000 bond while awaiting sentencing.

At Friday’s hearing, Fayette Circuit Judge Diane Minnifield imposed a 10-year sentence for manslaughter and one year for each of the three additional offenses. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning Snelling will serve a total of 10 years rather than 13.

The judge considered Snelling’s age, educational background and lack of a previous criminal record before issuing the sentence.

The courtroom also heard emotional statements from the baby’s paternal family, who described the milestones and memories they would never experience with him.

The infant’s father, Izaiah Hall, spoke publicly about the loss of his son, while other relatives described the devastation the family continues to endure.

Fayette County Commonwealth’s Attorney Kimberly Baird acknowledged that the prison sentence could not undo the tragedy, saying the baby’s relatives still have unanswered questions about why his life was taken.

Snelling was taken into custody immediately after sentencing.

She is not eligible for probation but may qualify for parole consideration after serving 85% of her sentence, under Kentucky’s applicable sentencing rules.