Women Show Up to Support Athlete Accused of Hiding Dead Baby in Closet

Former University of Kentucky STUNT team member Laken Snelling was back in court on Friday, September 26, facing disturbing charges connected to the discovery of her dead newborn in a trash bag inside her bedroom closet.

Snelling, 21, appeared before a judge for less than a minute, where she waived her right to a preliminary hearing. The case will now head to a grand jury, which will decide whether she will be indicted.

Despite the grim allegations, nearly a dozen women showed up in court to support Snelling, according to local outlets. Reports say they were her former classmates.

The case first gained national attention on August 27, when Lexington police responded to a call about a baby found dead inside a closet at an off-campus home near the university. Officers found the infant wrapped in a towel and placed inside a trash bag, along with cleaning supplies. Snelling was not home at the time, but investigators later tracked her down. She allegedly admitted to giving birth, placing the baby in the trash, and said she needed medical care.

An autopsy on the infant came back inconclusive, with further testing required to determine an exact cause of death.

Snelling was initially charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. She entered a not guilty plea earlier this month. After spending several days in jail, she was released on house arrest at her family’s Tennessee home after posting a $100,000 bond.

At the same time, Snelling withdrew from the University of Kentucky, where she had been a member of the STUNT team that finished as runners-up at last year’s NCAA competition.

Her next steps depend on the grand jury’s decision, but the shocking case continues to spark outrage and debate.