The cause of death for an infant who was stashed in a trash bag, and then hidden in a closet — allegedly by a University of Kentucky cheerleader — remains a mystery following an autopsy.
The Fayette County Coroner’s Office said preliminary results for the baby boy were “inconclusive” and more tests are needed moving forward, NBC News reported.
The coroner added he was born on Aug. 27, most likely to 21-year-old Laken Snelling, who police previously identified as the boy’s mother.
“I understand the community’s concern and sensitivity surrounding the death of a child,” county coroner Gary W. Ginn said in a Sept. 4 statement shared with NBC News. “This death affects many lives in our neighboring state of Tennessee, as well as those in the Commonwealth. We are currently conducting a thorough and methodical death investigation to ensure all facts are carefully considered.”
Snelling, a member of the University of Kentucky’s STUNT team, was arrested on Sunday, days after authorities were called to investigate reports of an unresponsive baby at a residence not far from campus.
When officers arrived at the home in Lexington, they found the baby “wrapped in a towel inside of a black trash bag,” which had been left in a closet, according to a police report obtained by WLWT.
Authorities said Snelling has since confessed to giving birth to the boy, and then tried to hide it by “cleaning any evidence [and] placing all cleaning items used inside of a black trash bag, including the infant.”
She was charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant.
Nearly all abortions have been illegal in Kentucky since 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. It’s allowed only in cases of a life-threatening medical emergency.
An investigation into the matter is ongoing.
