Former University of Kentucky student arrested on indictment in death of newborn baby

Laken Snelling's arrest came two days after she was indicted on a new first-degree manslaughter charge.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The former University of Kentucky student charged in the death of her newborn baby was arrested Thursday.

Jail records show Laken Snelling was booked into the Fayette County Detention Center where she was released after her father posted a $10,000 bond.

Her arrest came two days after she was indicted on a new first-degree manslaughter charge, as well as charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant.

According to court documents, Snelling told investigators she gave birth in the home and later placed the infant in the bag. But police said the manslaughter charge was added by the grand jury after the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office determined the baby was born alive and died from "asphyxia by undetermined means."

Snelling was arrested in August 2025 after Lexington police responded to a report of an unresponsive infant at a home in the 400 block of Park Avenue, near the UK campus. Officers said they found a newborn wrapped in a towel inside a trash bag in a closet. The baby was pronounced dead at the scene.

Snelling is due in court April 10.