A University of Kentucky cheerleader has been accused of hiding her dead baby inside a trash can in her closet while attempting to conceal the infant’s birth, according to American media and authorities.
Laken Ashlee Snelling was jailed and is currently facing charges of corpse abuse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.
The 21-year-old was arrested on Sunday, police in Lexington, Kentucky, confirmed in a statement.
The police citation, seen by WLEX, detailed how police were called to Snelling’s home on August 27 after receiving a report of “a deceased infant being located inside… a closet.”
The baby was “wrapped in a towel inside… a black trash bag,” the citation read, which prompted authorities to detain Snelling where she later admitted to concealing the infant she had birthed.
Snelling told police she hid the birth by “cleaning any evidence, placing all cleaning items used inside of a black trash bag, including the infant.”
On Wednesday, Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn said that the autopsy results were inconclusive. It is unclear if the baby was miscarried, stillborn, or if Snelling had carried out an abortion.
Snelling was released from jail on Tuesday on a bond of $100,000. She pleaded not guilty at a preliminary court appearance on Tuesday and was ordered to live with her parents, WLEX reported.
Snelling is anticipated to next appear in court at a hearing on September 26.