Former University of Kentucky student-athlete Laken Snelling, 22, faces a first-degree manslaughter charge after a grand jury indicted her in March 2026 in connection with the death of her newborn son, whose body was discovered in a trash bag inside a closet in her off-campus home in Lexington last August. The case, which has shocked the university and athletic community, has taken on new dimensions as former high school classmates have come forward with disturbing allegations, describing Snelling as an “appearance-obsessed serial bully” who once allegedly tried to run a fellow student over with her Jeep.

Snelling, a member of the University of Kentucky’s competitive STUNT team for three years, was initially arrested in late August 2025 on charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. According to police affidavits and court documents, Snelling admitted to giving birth alone in her bedroom around 4 a.m. on August 27, 2025. She told officers she wrapped the infant in a towel “like a burrito,” placed it along with cleaning materials into a black trash bag, and hid the bag in her closet. Roommates later discovered the body after hearing loud noises that sounded like something falling and knocked a picture off the wall. One roommate described the infant as “cold to the touch.”

The Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office later determined the baby boy was born alive and died from asphyxia by undetermined means. Snelling reportedly told police she passed out on top of the newborn after giving birth and woke to find him turning blue and purple. The grand jury upgraded the charges to include first-degree manslaughter, citing evidence that she intentionally abused the infant, though the indictment notes the actions occurred under “extreme emotional disturbance.” She was released on a $10,000 bond and has pleaded not guilty. The University of Kentucky confirmed she is no longer enrolled or affiliated with the athletics program.

The tragedy has now been compounded by claims from former classmates at her Tennessee high school. Sydney Kite, who attended school with Snelling, told media outlets that the former cheerleader was a “serial bully” who targeted multiple students, including Kite’s own sister. In one particularly alarming allegation, Kite claimed Snelling once tried to run over one of her closest friends with her Jeep. “The bullying got so bad my friend had to be pulled out of school and transferred to another because Laken had taken it so far,” Kite said. Other accounts described Snelling as fixated on appearance and quick to lash out when angered.

These new statements have fueled intense online debate and raised questions about Snelling’s character and possible patterns of behavior. However, they have not been independently verified by authorities in connection with the current criminal case, which remains focused on the events surrounding the newborn’s death. Snelling’s legal team has not publicly commented on the bullying allegations.

Court records also reveal additional details about the night of the incident. Roommates communicated via a Snapchat group chat, with one reporting loud noises lasting about an hour. Suspicions that Snelling might be pregnant had circulated among them, but no one had confronted her directly. Police obtained a search warrant for her Snapchat account as part of the investigation. Snelling was not home when roommates first found the body and called 911; she was taken into custody shortly afterward.

The case has drawn widespread attention across Kentucky and beyond. Supporters, including some former classmates and teammates, appeared in court with Snelling during earlier hearings, while others expressed horror at the circumstances. The Fayette County Coroner’s Office and Lexington Police Department continue to investigate, with the full autopsy and toxicology results playing a central role in the prosecution’s case.

For the University of Kentucky community, the indictment marks a painful chapter involving one of its student-athletes. The STUNT team, which emphasizes technical athletic competition, had featured Snelling prominently in recent years. University officials have offered counseling resources to students and staff affected by the news.

As the legal proceedings move forward, Snelling remains on house arrest at her parents’ home in Tennessee. The manslaughter charge carries significant penalties, though the “extreme emotional disturbance” element may influence sentencing considerations if she is convicted. Defense attorneys often argue such cases involve complex mental health and emotional factors surrounding concealed pregnancies and postpartum distress.

The broader conversation has turned to issues of hidden pregnancies on college campuses, mental health support for student-athletes, and the long-term effects of bullying. Advocates have called for better resources for young women facing unplanned pregnancies in high-pressure environments like collegiate athletics.

Laken Snelling’s story has evolved rapidly from a quiet arrest last summer to a high-profile manslaughter indictment and now public allegations of past bullying behavior. The newborn’s short life ended in tragedy, hidden away in a closet, while questions about the mother’s actions — both on that August night and in her earlier years — continue to unfold in court and in the court of public opinion. As the case heads toward trial, the full picture of what happened in that Lexington bedroom may finally emerge, bringing answers to a community still grappling with shock and sorrow.