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

[stonedgnome]

Paywalled article but the blurb does give this away.

Boyfriend of cheerleader charged with hiding dead newborn - revealed

The hunky boyfriend of the Kentucky cheerleader charged with dumping her dead newborn in a trash bag is a former college basketball star, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal.

www.dailymail.co.uk

"The hunky boyfriend" :eyeroll:

 

[Susikatze]

Laken's FB page
Laken's Tiktok

University of Kentucky cheerleader, 21, arrested after her newborn is found dead ‘inside of a black trash bag’ in closet

The photos from April where she is with 2 other girls look like she is pregnant but well concealed with the baggy blue dress

 

[mickey2942]

My issue, is that young women, can use the "excuse" that they didn't have health care, to know about the pregnancy or what to do...

We really need to solve the Healthcare issue in the United States.

 

[Susikatze]

I knew things were becoming archaic in the south, so much so that it feels like we have been yanked back in time to before the 1970s.

Evidently in Georgia a woman was prosecuted for a miscarriage, how sick it is that men are becoming so insecure that they feel they must control every aspect of another person’s life.
Yes- I’m indicting men. If a state thinks this is ok, it isn’t a rare ideology, laws are changing all over the country and few are standing up for women. The fear of women and need for control, abuse, submission, most often claiming it is Biblical is simply sick.

What is this world coming to?
I’m so glad my kids no longer live in the south! And as soon as I am able, I’ll be with them

IMO

Agree, but there are also other ways if abortion is banned like anonymous birth in the hospital. She could have easily said she goes in for a minor procedure, give birth and baby would be safe and loved and she could go on with her life as well.

Did the bf know about the pregnancy? edit: I see he killed the baby (or at least did not help getting medical care) and hid it. absolutely disgusting. be a man and support your woman and help her either raise the baby you made or both decide on giving it up for adoption.

 

[Inthedetails]

I knew things were becoming archaic in the south, so much so that it feels like we have been yanked back in time to before the 1970s.

Evidently in Georgia a woman was prosecuted for a miscarriage, how sick it is that men are becoming so insecure that they feel they must control every aspect of another person’s life.
Yes- I’m indicting men. If a state thinks this is ok, it isn’t a rare ideology, laws are changing all over the country and few are standing up for women. The fear of women and need for control, abuse, submission, most often claiming it is Biblical is simply sick.

What is this world coming to?
I’m so glad my kids no longer live in the south! And as soon as I am able, I’ll be with them

IMO

I edited my post that was quoted to also include health care providers have faced legal problems when treating their patients for miscarriages. I don't want to derail the thread, but just wanted to add it can be hard to get treatment even if you want it if the provider will face criminal charges.

And, again, I have NO IDEA if that was happening in this case.

jmopinion

 

[AngTxGal]

There’s also the possibility that the baby wasn’t as expected… other skin color as the boyfriend, a birth defect, or she did smth wrong during the birth and was afraid to own up to it?

If there was an obvious birth defect- I’m thinking we would know that by now.
If the baby is not the same race as the boyfriend… she would know the possibility existed and would not have been surprised.

I’m thinking no, she had too much to lose- as evidence by how much she has lost.

What is still possible- she wasn’t sure she was pregnant. The baby was born, the father was present, and he killed it. Or maybe there were complications and it died.

I’m not sure if she is a victim or a murderer, her life in public seemed perfect… I’m always skeptical of perfect appearances… anyone who seeks perfection is going to fall flat on their face very hard. Life simply doesn’t work that way… we need to teach our children to be resilient- not perfect.

IMO

 

[Inthedetails]

Agree, but there are also other ways if abortion is banned like anonymous birth in the hospital. She could have easily said she goes in for a minor procedure, give birth and baby would be safe and loved and she could go on with her life as well.

Did the bf know about the pregnancy?

My impression from her TikTok is they both knew about the pregnancy and were happy about it. There is a photoshoot with the two of them that sure looks like a parents-to-be photoshoot.

Those photos are what makes me lean toward a sudden delivery of a premature baby or a baby born with health issues she couldn't handle at home - and she panicked. But, I don't know what happened, of course.

jmopinion

 

[AngTxGal]

Agree, but there are also other ways if abortion is banned like anonymous birth in the hospital. She could have easily said she goes in for a minor procedure, give birth and baby would be safe and loved and she could go on with her life as well.

Did the bf know about the pregnancy? edit: I see he killed the baby (or at least did not help getting medical care) and hid it. absolutely disgusting. be a man and support your woman and help her either raise the baby you made or both decide on giving it up for adoption.

I can also be the that person who thinks all women should know better, as I didn’t make such a mistake. Was I a nun? No, I was not always prepared 100% taking control of birth control every single time. If all of us women and men are honest- most of us could be in such a situation wondering what to do. And most men have no idea how many women were in this situation with their child. Women often do not tell them.

And in order for such safe options to be used, we have to know about them, see the path to take them, and be in a state of mind that we can act. Today in 2025 many states are simply not that safe place anymore.

And as horrible it is and angry I am that a newborn baby is dead, I also have a daughter and have been a young woman. We must be empathetic of the realities that they face

IMO

 

[AngTxGal]

My impression from her TikTok is they both knew about the pregnancy and were happy about it. There is a photoshoot with the two of them that sure looks like a parents-to-be photoshoot.

Those photos are what makes me lean toward a sudden delivery of a premature baby or a baby born with health issues she couldn't handle at home - and she panicked. But, I don't know what happened, of course.

jmopinion

I haven’t seen this, will see if I can find it.

IMO

 

[Inthedetails]

I haven’t seen this, will see if I can find it.

IMO

@AngTxGal Here's a link: TikTok - Make Your Day

Check out the six white-dress photos with the boyfriend.

jmo

 

[QB2022]

Do many 21 year olds have formal photos hoots with a relatively new boyfriend?

 

[angelainwi]

Do many 21 year olds have formal photos hoots with a relatively new boyfriend?

It may have been to help build a friend's photography business. They were just the models, possibly.

 

[AngTxGal]

@AngTxGal Here's a link: TikTok - Make Your Day

Check out the six white-dress photos with the boyfriend.

jmo

Hmm, it feels very intrusive to look at what feels like personal photos of a young woman with her boyfriend.
The song, the photos, to her may have meant something lovely.
How did they come across to him? No idea
And now for me, she is a person with dreams and feelings and hopes, and no longer simply a case.
It feels quite uncomfortable, so glad my life as a young person was not all over the internet.

IMO

 

[Inthedetails]

Hmm, it feels very intrusive to look at what feel like personal photos of a young woman with her boyfriend.
The song, the photos, to her may have meant something lovely.
How did they come across to him? No idea
And now for me, she is a person with dreams and feelings and hopes, and no longer simply a case.
It feels quite uncomfortable, so glad my life as a young person was not all over the internet.

IMO

I hear ya, but the photos cross from personal into public when she posts them online and keeps them online even now when she is at home and has ability to take them down if she didn't want people to see them.

I am also glad my younger years were not on the internet and I do have compassion for young women - who, remarkably, have fewer rights than we did at that age. I am being thoughtful, imo, about that I think happened (panic at an early birth), as we don't know the facts yet.

But, the photos are public and the person who posted them knows the photos are public. It's not required that we look, of course, if its is uncomfortable to do so. But we don't have to feel guilty about looking at photos of someone who is displaying them.

jmopinion

 

[AngTxGal]

Do many 21 year olds have formal photos hoots with a relatively new boyfriend?

I don’t know, my world and that of a current 21 year old are so different. I know for certain this is true because my daughter is 21.
What isn’t that different are the dreams, hopes, loves, and character underneath all the social media bs. To me that is all it is, a facade
I’m so glad the reality of fake personas hit me at a young enough age that I didn’t fall into peer pressure and make the life altering mistakes some often do. I was not an angel- and made my own share of mistakes and successes… but I was who I was on my terms. Shouldn’t we all be that free?

IMO

 

[AngTxGal]

I hear ya, but the photos cross from personal into public when she posts them online and keeps them online even now when she is at home and has ability to take them down if she didn't want people to see them.

I am also glad my younger years were not on the internet and I do have compassion for young women - who, remarkably, have fewer rights than we did at that age. I am being thoughtful, imo, about that I think happened (panic at an early birth), as we don't know the facts yet.

But, the photos are public and the person who posted them knows the photos are public. It's not required that we look, of course, if its is uncomfortable to do so. But we don't have to feel guilty about looking at photos of someone who is displaying them.

jmopinion

I’m not judging anyone for looking, I’m fearing what my daughter has posted to the world in the past that could come back to haunt her one day. She too is 21…
How weird it would be if she was in a similar situation and strangers were perusing her social media, speculating on her life. That feels too close to home for me, as a Mom.
Some cases hit like that- I’m all in and analytical and then a bat between the eyes and I’m Mom again. I can no longer compartmentalize… I simply feel empathy and deep sadness.

IMO

 

[Ghostwheel]

So dumb question. If one has a live born baby at home, and one wants to remain anonymous,, baby box is an option. If one has a stillborn baby at home,, what is the option? Is there one at all?

 

[AngTxGal]

So dumb question. If one has a live born baby at home, and one wants to remain anonymous,, baby box is an option. If one has a stillborn baby at home,, what is the option? Is there one at all?

Hmm- that is not a dumb question… this is an interesting biological and legal question.
I know the biology, but so much of the law is changing lately I was not sure of the legalities.

So in Texas…

“The type of arrangements available will differ based on weight and gestational age.

• If your baby is under 350 grams or less than 20 weeks gestation, you have two options. You may choose to bury or cremate his or her remains through a funeral home. Or, you may choose for the hospital to handle the disposition of the remains at no charge.
• If your baby is over 350 grams and/or greater than 20 week gestation, you will need to bury or cremate his or her remains through a funeral home as required by Texas State Law.”

Texas how to handle miscarriage or stillbirth

The sickening thing is that the weight and gestational age determine if it becomes biological waste or not. Wow, a burial in the yard like a pet seems cruel but much less cruel than biological waste.
I assume that type of biological waste is incinerated.
And a burial after embalming prevents- warning due to sick content… animals will dig up a shallow grave. So over 350 grams a funeral home must be involved. Hmm, I did not know.
Under 350 g the funeral home or hospital.
There is no other option given.

Most young women do not know that a DNC may follow a miscarriage or stillbirth to be sure… how do I say this gently… things are all ok and no infection is in progress for the young woman.

So I work in the biological sciences and I did not know for certain the current legal answer as to the 350 gram weight and gestational age line for the law.

How would a 21 year old know the biology and the law if I did not?
And things seem to be changing all too often.
And, the Texas state law is given using the metric system- which most people here do not know.
350 grams is about 3/4 pound

Now you have to think of a the mental state of a young woman, and if they would find this info, and want to take actions… a doctor, a funeral home… hmmm
My guess is a lot and Likely most miscarriages happen without any documentation, doctor, or funeral home involved.

I’d venture to say most young women base her actions on her circumstances, if others are aware that she was pregnant, her age, if the father is involved, if medical care is needed, and if the baby looks like a baby, or not.
Is that what others think?

IMO

 

[Ghostwheel]

I, personally, would base her actions on whether live birth, live birth and dies, still birth. Live birth and heathy has no business being in a closet, IMO. Live birth and the baby dies within hours, I see panic, maybe depression and sadness and no idea what to do. Still birth, sadness maybe panic and depression and still no idea what to do, because baby box is out of the question. Keeping it is not even a choice now. But this is JMO.

If she has just given birth to a child that is no longer a source of joy, but of sadness, and there is no guidance as to what to do when it happened not in a hospital (whether by accident or choice), I can see being overcome with the afterbirth hormones, panicking and hiding the remains in the closest trying to figure out what to do. Going to LE woud not even be an options because they'd just blame her for what would have been a thing that happens in a hospital on a regular basis. Not all young women get proper guidance for situations like this or would have the proper support system, sad to say.

That is how I see it, from my very narrow point of view.

 

[Inthedetails]

An ex-boyfriend of University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling is testing his DNA to determine whether he is the father of the newborn found dead in her closet last month....

Hall, a hulking quarterback at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn., dated the alleged killer mom before she started seeing former college basketballer Conner Jordan, the Daily Mail reported.

Cheerleader Laken Snelling’s ex-boyfriend provides DNA sample to cops after her newborn found dead in trash bag

It remains unclear who fathered the dead infant.

nypost.com