KY - Laken Snelling, 21, arrested after giving birth and infant was found in closet - Sept 2025

[abyquinn]

I gave her so much grace, over the small possibility that baby was stillborn. No prenatal care, then delivering alone, there are so many things that can and do go wrong during an attended labor & delivery. I felt if the baby passed during labor after she had attempted to deny the pregnancy that she may have gone into shock and stashed his body while mentally denying the whole event. Knowing the baby was born alive and she wrapped his little body in a dirty towel, then threw him in the closet like so much trash. I hope they throw every possible charge at her and the harshest possible punishment.

She said she derived some comfort in the moment by laying next to him & apparently taking a nap. I’m sure he would’ve found a dry towel or blanket more comfortable than the wet, bloody towel she used to ‘wrap him up like a burrito’. Her claiming the baby fell to the floor and she fell on top of him causing his death is not supported by the autopsy.

Knowing that she consulted Dr Google to learn about hidden pregnancy, labor & delivery but apparently had no provisions for a baby, not even a blanket to wrap him in before taking him 2 blocks to the “baby box” tells me she never planned on him surviving. That is just heart breaking. I feel very certain if her roommates hadn’t found him, she would’ve taken the bags, baby & all to the bin & no more problem for Laken.

 

[Gae]

So the roomies say the loud noises went on for about an hour, but LS said the loud noise was her falling on the floor? I keep thinking that hour long loud noise session could have been LS doing things to get that baby out?? Hopping up and down? Stomping her feet? Maybe kicking the wall or hitting her fist on things because of the pain? Did she "fall on the floor" more than once in an effort to - do whatever? The loud noises lasting an hour and LS saying it was just her falling down don't jive. Falling once on the floor doesn't reverberate for an hour. IMO

 

[outback]

Her roommates should be receiving counseling because of this tragedy.

I can't imagine what they are feeling about all of this.



Imo

 

[Gae]

I gave her so much grace, over the small possibility that baby was stillborn. No prenatal care, then delivering alone, there are so many things that can and do go wrong during an attended labor & delivery. I felt if the baby passed during labor after she had attempted to deny the pregnancy that she may have gone into shock and stashed his body while mentally denying the whole event. Knowing the baby was born alive and she wrapped his little body in a dirty towel, then threw him in the closet like so much trash. I hope they throw every possible charge at her and the harshest possible punishment.

She said she derived some comfort in the moment by laying next to him & apparently taking a nap. I’m sure he would’ve found a dry towel or blanket more comfortable than the wet, bloody towel she used to ‘wrap him up like a burrito’. Her claiming the baby fell to the floor and she fell on top of him causing his death is not supported by the autopsy.

Knowing that she consulted Dr Google to learn about hidden pregnancy, labor & delivery but apparently had no provisions for a baby, not even a blanket to wrap him in before taking him 2 blocks to the “baby box” tells me she never planned on him surviving. That is just heart breaking. I feel very certain if her roommates hadn’t found him, she would’ve taken the bags, baby & all to the bin & no more problem for Laken.

So agreeing with you.
She never made any attempt to comfort her baby or call for help for her baby. Then that sweet baby boy went into the trash along with the cleaning supplies - just a piece of trash! I certainly agree that, most likely, her plan was to come back and just throw the whole bag in a trash dumpster to be taken to a landfill.
And you're right - if the baby fell on the floor and then she fell on top of the baby, that would have shown up in the initial autopsy.

 

[Gae]

Was the sweet baby boy buried? Who claimed the baby from the ME? Who provided a funeral? Who went to the funeral?
(Y'all, I have a five week old baby grandson who is so loved and cherished by his mommy and all of us. This is just hitting me extra hard)

 

[sunspun]

The former boyfriend did a paternity test according to his dad who spoke out on a news program shortly after this hit the stands. They/he didn’t know she was pregnant. I don’t know when the results were ready or if they will be commenting before she goes to trial.

In the Banfield video posted above, Banfield's guest told her that a paternity test had established Laken's ex-bf, the football player from another college (didn't catch his name, but it's known) as the father of the baby, and that once paternity was known, the baby's body was released to him. And his family even held a funeral for the baby before burial.

She also said Laken did attend funeral, but only "for a minute."

ETA I only saw your post, @Gae , after I posted this, but this I think answers your questions and if I'd seen your post first, I would have posted this as a reply to you.

 

[Gae]

In the Banfield video posted above, Banfield's guest told her that a paternity test had established Laken's ex-bf, the football player from another college (didn't catch his name, but it's known) as the father of the baby, and that once paternity was known, the baby's body was released to him. And his family even held a funeral for the baby before burial.

She also said Laken did attend funeral, but only "for a minute."

ETA I only saw your post, @Gae , after I posted this, but this I think answers your questions and if I'd seen your post first, I would have posted this as a reply to you.

Thank you sunspun!

 

[sunspun]

Was the sweet baby boy buried? Who claimed the baby from the ME? Who provided a funeral? Who went to the funeral?
(Y'all, I have a five week old baby grandson who is so loved and cherished by his mommy and all of us. This is just hitting me extra hard)

In my last post, I talked about these things you've asked, and I thought I'd also add that in the Banfield video posted above, Banfield's guest also mentioned that Laken's parents were also at the baby's funeral held by the baby's father's family. And she said that she was told Laken's mother was "very cold" and "emotionless" at the funeral and referred to the baby as "it." But she said that Laken's father "seemed visibly upset and like really saddened by it."

 

[sunspun]

So the roomies say the loud noises went on for about an hour, but LS said the loud noise was her falling on the floor? I keep thinking that hour long loud noise session could have been LS doing things to get that baby out?? Hopping up and down? Stomping her feet? Maybe kicking the wall or hitting her fist on things because of the pain? Did she "fall on the floor" more than once in an effort to - do whatever? The loud noises lasting an hour and LS saying it was just her falling down don't jive. Falling once on the floor doesn't reverberate for an hour. IMO

I would have thought that if the "loud noises" lasted for about an hour, according to Laken's roommates, that they were hearing Laken herself making loud noises as she was actually giving birth! But I find it odd that the "noises" haven't been characterized as such, as not being described as cries of pain or moans, etc. The only descriptive detail I've heard mentioned, besides that they were "loud noises", is a "thud", which doesn't make sense, since a thud obviously can't go on for an hour, as people have mentioned.

But in Banfield's video above, Banfield's guest said that one of the roommates even said the "thud" she heard was so loud and forceful that it actually knocked a picture off her wall! Yes, that's what she said! Hard to believe imo, but I guess I have to believe it since the roommate said it, and I'm sure she wouldn't make that up.

But nowhere have I heard anyone say that what they heard sounded like Laken or anyone crying out in pain, like you wouldn't be surprised to hear if someone is giving birth! So... does that mean that when the roommates say they heard sustained loud noises for about an hour, are they really talking about thuds and bumps and such, like someone throwing things or knocking things over, etc.? Or are they maybe just reluctant to describe what they actually heard because it really sounded like Laken making normal childbirth sounds? Maybe that's just a little too personal for them to publicly report something like that with that much descriptive detail.

And Laken reportedly told her roommates it was her fainting because she hadn't eaten, as an explanation for the loud sounds they were saying they heard, so maybe that's just why they haven't given more detailed descriptions, if that would contradict what Laken told them to explain the noises.

I worried that if the sounds really were thuds and such, as if someone were throwing things etc., that that could be how the baby had died, which would be a thousand times worse, imo, but I quickly was able to dismiss those concerns, thankfully, when nothing like blunt force trauma was reported by the coroner as COD.

 

[pukasonqo2]

I would have thought that if the "loud noises" lasted for about an hour, according to Laken's roommates, that they were hearing Laken herself making loud noises as she was actually giving birth! But I find it odd that the "noises" haven't been characterized as such, as not being described as cries of pain or moans, etc. The only descriptive detail I've heard mentioned, besides that they were "loud noises", is a "thud", which doesn't make sense, since a thud obviously can't go on for an hour, as people have mentioned.

But in Banfield's video above, Banfield's guest said that one of the roommates even said the "thud" she heard was so loud and forceful that it actually knocked a picture off her wall! Yes, that's what she said! Hard to believe imo, but I guess I have to believe it since the roommate said it, and I'm sure she wouldn't make that up.

But nowhere have I heard anyone say that what they heard sounded like Laken or anyone crying out in pain, like you wouldn't be surprised to hear if someone is giving birth! So... does that mean that when the roommates say they heard sustained loud noises for about an hour, are they really talking about thuds and bumps and such, like someone throwing things or knocking things over, etc.? Or are they maybe just reluctant to describe what they actually heard because it really sounded like Laken making normal childbirth sounds? Maybe that's just a little too personal for them to publicly report something like that with that much descriptive detail.

And Laken reportedly told her roommates it was her fainting because she hadn't eaten, as an explanation for the loud sounds they were saying they heard, so maybe that's just why they haven't given more detailed descriptions, if that would contradict what Laken told them to explain the noises.

I worried that if the sounds really were thuds and such, as if someone were throwing things etc., that that could be how the baby had died, which would be a thousand times worse, imo, but I quickly was able to dismiss those concerns, thankfully, when nothing like blunt force trauma was reported by the coroner as COD.

Just giving my own experience giving birth, I had 2 natural deliveries with NIL anaesthetics and I only made grunting noises, no screaming or loud noises; with my second my ex heard the midwife saying to a colleague she didn’t know how advanced I was because of the “lack of noise”, her colleagues response was “maybe she is a Scientologist” (I’m not) my ex told them I was Peruvian and ready to go straight back to work in the fields after the baby was born (he was being sarcastic)

 

[abyquinn]

In the Banfield video posted above, Banfield's guest told her that a paternity test had established Laken's ex-bf, the football player from another college (didn't catch his name, but it's known) as the father of the baby, and that once paternity was known, the baby's body was released to him. And his family even held a funeral for the baby before burial.

She also said Laken did attend funeral, but only "for a minute."

ETA I only saw your post, @Gae , after I posted this, but this I think answers your questions and if I'd seen your post first, I would have posted this as a reply to you.

Thank you! I hadn’t heard they had the results. I had heard about the funeral but it wasn’t from a quotable source so I never mentioned it. Also they didn’t mention the father’s family at all! I assumed it was done by Laken’s family. They did say the other things you brought up about Laken’s family. Mom was unpleasant throughout, referred to him as “it”, dad was upset. Seems that apple didn’t fall far from the tree, at all!

Does this mean Laken’s family wasn’t offered the baby’s remains or they didn’t arrange for pick up so baby’s dad stepped up? Or did they automatically go to the father due to legal issues with Laken being under house arrest in TN? Wow! Laken took a minute out of her busy schedule to make an appearance! Too kind of her. Again, I don’t think she felt any connection to this precious baby. And here the baby’s dad who knew nothing about him until after his death, stepped in and did the right thing.

It’s amazing how the totally selfish acts of one girl has affected so many people, and may continue to have repercussions for years. Her boyfriend, her roommates, family, dad & dad’s family, friends, even classmates, coworkers, acquaintances who thought she was pregnant but didn’t say anything bc what do you to someone who denies they are pregnant? All these people have been personally touched by this tremendous loss. And Laken? Eh. She had a class to go to & McDs to pickup!

 

[starlightstarbright]

So the roomies say the loud noises went on for about an hour, but LS said the loud noise was her falling on the floor? I keep thinking that hour long loud noise session could have been LS doing things to get that baby out?? Hopping up and down? Stomping her feet? Maybe kicking the wall or hitting her fist on things because of the pain? Did she "fall on the floor" more than once in an effort to - do whatever? The loud noises lasting an hour and LS saying it was just her falling down don't jive. Falling once on the floor doesn't reverberate for an hour. IMO

I think the hour of noise was her in labour making normal vocalisations that any woman going through natural labour makes. Everything up to the pushing bit at the very end can be quite quiet. I’ve had 2 babies at home, incidentally kneeling on my bedroom floor (by choice, planned home births). Most of it is very peaceful and quiet because you’re generally quite comfortable. Not like in the movies or when you go to hospital and are induced.

It’s the last hour or so that is very intense. You can’t not make noise. It’s physically impossible. Because the noise is part of the fetal ejection reflex, which pushes the baby out without you trying. In natural births, which we don’t see much of in the US, there is no coached pushing. The body just pushes, whether you like it or not. I assume it’s those sounds that the roommates heard.

That said, if she lay with the baby after and had a nap, and the baby was born healthy and alive, I think the roommates would have also heard a baby crying. Babies aren’t silent when they’re born, especially if they are cold and not cared for. They cry until they are cared for. Unless they are born in distress or too unwell to cry. JMO