Former UK student pleads guilty to manslaughter following infant’s death

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) – A former University of Kentucky student has pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge stemming from the death of her infant son.

According to a report by LEX 18, on Friday, Laken Snelling pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter.

Court records state Snelling previously pleaded not guilty in April.

Snelling also faces charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant.

Snelling’s son was found dead after officers say they were dispatched on the morning of August 27, 2025 for an unresponsive infant at a residence in the 400 block of Park Avenue.

The Kentucky Examiner’s Office later determined the infant was born alive, with his cause of death being asphyxia by undetermined means, police say.

We will provide additional updates as they are released.