A surprising development in a case involving a cheerleader accused of abandoning her newborn has emerged, centering around a DNA twist.
Laken Snelling, a cheerleader from the University of Kentucky, was taken into custody on August 30 following reports of an ‘unresponsive infant.’
Police discovered the tragic scene of a deceased newborn ‘wrapped in a towel inside a black trash bag’ hidden in a closet in Snelling’s off-campus Lexington room, as noted in a police report.
The 21-year-old, hailing from White Pine, Tennessee, faces charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.
Amid these events, Snelling’s former boyfriend is allegedly pursuing a DNA test to ascertain if he is the father of the deceased infant, as reported by Daily Mail.
According to the outlet, Izaiah Hall, who previously dated Snelling, is looking into this matter after her rumored new relationship with basketball player Jordon Connor.
Adding to the complexity, Hall’s family confirmed he has provided a DNA sample to determine the child’s paternity.
From their Tennessee home, his father, Justin Smith, said: “There’s a DNA test, it’s already underway. Izaiah’s done this to find out if he was the father.”
The 45-year-old continued: “I’m not sure when we’ll get the results. We’ve been told it could be a couple of weeks.”
Reports indicate Snelling was involved with the Cumberland University quarterback, though Hall’s father did not specify when their relationship ended.
“I don’t really want to go into any more detail at this stage,” he stated.
During questioning, Snelling allegedly ‘admitted to giving birth’ and acknowledged that she had attempted to conceal the event by disposing of all evidence in the trash bag with the newborn, according to the arrest report.
Authorities stated that the infant was declared dead at the scene. The Fayette County Coroner’s Office initially ruled the autopsy as inconclusive and mentioned that extensive microscopic analyses would be conducted to determine the cause of death.
After pleading not guilty to the charges, Snelling was released on a $100,000 bond by a Fayette District Court judge on September 2, just days after her arrest.
She has been instructed to reside with her parents until her subsequent court date on September 26.
Before her arrest, Snelling, who was a part of the university’s competitive cheerleading STUNT team, shared a TikTok video outlining her goals for the year.
The video featured various emojis, including an engagement ring, a house, money, and an image of a woman bottle-feeding a baby, indicating her desire to have a child.
Lexington Police Department has been contacted for comment regarding the case.