New, heart-wrenching details have emerged concerning the tragic demise of a baby born to a University of Kentucky cheerleader. Precisely one week after Laken Ashlee Snelling's arrest, which was tied to the discovery of a deceased infant concealed in a closet, the Fayette County Coroner's Office disclosed the preliminary autopsy findings of the newborn in a press release, as reported by NBC News. Although the tests confirmed the child was a boy, born on August 27th, authorities stated that the exact cause of his death remained "inconclusive," according to the outlet.
"I fully comprehend the profound concern and sensitivity surrounding the loss of a child within our community," County Coroner Gary W. Ginn expressed in a statement dated September 4th, shared with NBC News. "This tragic event has deeply impacted numerous lives not only in our neighboring state of Tennessee but also across the Commonwealth. We are diligently conducting a meticulous and comprehensive investigation to ensure every fact is meticulously examined."
On August 27th, Snelling, aged 21, was apprehended after law enforcement officers responded to an emergency call regarding an unresponsive baby at a Lexington, Kentucky, residence. "At approximately 10:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to a home on the 400 block of Park Avenue for an unresponsive infant," Lexington police detailed in an August 31st press release. "Upon arrival, officers found an infant who was pronounced dead at the scene."
The infant, as revealed in an arrest citation obtained by NBC affiliate WLEX, was found "wrapped in a towel inside a black trash bag." The citation further noted that after being informed of her Miranda rights, Snelling "admitted to giving birth" to the child and to "concealing the birth by erasing any evidence, placing all cleaning supplies used, including the towel-wrapped infant, inside a black trash bag."
In relation to the incident, the college athlete pleaded guilty to charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant, as per court documents acquired by NBC News on September 4th. She was released on bond on September 2nd and is currently under house arrest, according to the outlet. E! News attempted to reach out to Snelling's legal representation for comment at the time of her arrest but received no response.
