--- title: "Laken Snelling sentenced to 10 years for newborn son's death" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/laken-snelling-sentenced-to-10-years-for-newborn-sons-death" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/laken-snelling-sentenced-to-10-years-for-newborn-sons-death" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/laken-snelling-sentenced-to-10-years-for-newborn-sons-death.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/laken-snelling-sentenced-to-10-years-for-newborn-sons-death" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-16T22:45:40.431Z" source_reported: "2026-10-16T20:41:52.000Z" updated: "2026-10-17T01:00:27.216Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 45 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-17T09:45:13.940951+00:00" --- # Laken Snelling sentenced to 10 years for newborn son's death *Former University of Kentucky cheerleader pleaded guilty to manslaughter and other charges.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named body, with two independent outlets and specific date/place. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Quotes from affected parties and responsible bodies, and clear separation of fact from comment. - Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. Headlines use strong language like 'horror' and 'killing' but the body is factual. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Former University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling received a 10-year prison sentence for the death of her newborn son. - Snelling pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. - The baby's body was found in a trash bag in a closet at Snelling's off-campus home in August 2025. - Prosecutors had requested a 13-year sentence, while the medical examiner determined the cause of death was asphyxia by undetermined means. Laken Snelling, 22, a former University of Kentucky cheerleader, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the death of her newborn son. She pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. The baby's body was discovered in August 2025, wrapped in a towel inside a black plastic bag in a closet at Snelling's off-campus home. Lexington police were alerted by Snelling's college roommates, who found the body and evidence of childbirth. During a plea hearing, Snelling stated, "Instead of helping him, I ended his life." She also told the court she was under significant emotional stress and the baby's arrival was unexpected. The Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office determined the baby's cause of death was asphyxia by undetermined means. Prosecutors had sought a total of 13 years for the charges. ## Disagreement on sentencing details While most reports state Snelling received a 10-year sentence, the Hindustan Times noted that the judge ordered the sentences for each charge to run concurrently, meaning Snelling received 10 years for manslaughter and one year each for the other charges, all served at the same time. US Magazine also reported that the judge ordered the sentences to run at the same time, rather than consecutively. ## What the coverage left out None of the centre or right-rated reports mentioned the specific details of Snelling's withdrawal from the University of Kentucky, other than her status as a former cheerleader or student. The Hindustan Times noted she withdrew days after her arrest in August 2025 and was a member of the STUNT team and a decorated beauty queen. US Magazine stated she was no longer enrolled after her arrest. ## Who covered it Shares of the 22 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 59% (13) - Right: 41% (9) 10 of 32 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-17T09:45:13.940951+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 33 times; 1 check found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-17T10:30:23.027Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports focused on the sentencing of Laken Snelling and the details of her plea. Multiple reports highlighted Snelling's statement in court: "Instead of helping him, I ended his life." The discovery of the baby's body by roommates was also a common point, with several mentioning the "blood-soaked towel" and "plastic bag containing evidence of childbirth." The cause of death as determined by the Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office was included in these reports. ### Right - Right-rated reports led with the sentence handed down to Laken Snelling for killing her newborn. The discovery of the baby's body in a trash bag in a closet was frequently mentioned. Several reports included Snelling's confession, "Instead of helping him, I ended his life." The fact that Snelling was a former University of Kentucky cheerleader was also a consistent detail across these reports. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 2 - mixed: 9 - high: 7 - unknown: 10 - veryHigh: 4 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [uInterview](https://uinterview.com/uncategorized/former-kentucky-cheerleader-laken-snelling-sentenced-to-10-years-for-killing-newborn-child-leaving-him-in-trash-bag-in-closet) — Former Kentucky Cheerleader Laken Snelling Sentenced To 10 Years For Killing Newborn Child & Leaving Him In Trash Bag In Closet - [tilestwra.com](https://tilestwra.com/skotose-to-neogennito-paidi-tis-kai-ekrypse-ti-soro-se-sakoula-katadikastike-se-10-chronia-fylakisi) — She Killed Her Newborn Child and Hid the Body in a Bag - She Was Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison - [capitalisminstitute.org](https://capitalisminstitute.org/former-kentucky-cheerleader-gets-10-years-for-killing-newborn-found-in-trash-bag) — Ex-Kentucky Cheerleader Gets 10 Years for Killing Newborn - [SuperTalk 92.9](https://supertalk929.com/2026/10/16/former-cheerleader-convicted-of-manslaughter-gets-10-year-prison-sentence) — Former cheerleader convicted of manslaughter gets 10-year prison sentence - [WOWK](https://wowktv.com/news/former-kentucky-student-sentenced-to-10-years-for-babys-concealed-birth-death) — Former Kentucky student sentenced to 10 years for baby's concealed birth, death - [Prensa Libre](https://prensalibre.com/internacional/quien-es-laken-snelling-exreina-de-belleza-condenada-a-10-anos-de-prision-por-la-muerte-de-su-bebe) — Who Is Laken Snelling?: Former Queen of Beauty Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for the Death of Her Baby - [Internewscast](https://internewscast.com/news/us/former-university-of-kentucky-cheerleader-sentenced-to-10-years-in-infant-death-case) — Former University of Kentucky Cheerleader Sentenced to 10 Years in Infant Death Case - [nytimespost.com](https://nytimespost.com/former-university-of-kentucky-cheerleader-sentenced-to-10-years-in-prison-for-infants-death) — Former University of Kentucky cheerleader sentenced to 10 years in prison for infant's death - NEW YORK TIMES POST - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/us/former-university-kentucky-cheerleader-sentenced-10-years-prison-infants-death) — Former University of Kentucky cheerleader sentenced to 10 years in prison for infant's death - [Typosthes](https://typosthes.gr/diethni/445553_friki-stis-ipa-skotose-neogennito-paidi-tis-kai-ekrypse-ti-soro-se-sakoyla-stin) — Horror in the US: She Killed Her Newborn Child and Hid the Body in a Bag in the Closet - [Hindustan Times](https://hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/laken-snelling-sentenced-ex-kentucky-cheerleader-gets-10-years-in-infant-sons-death-101792171710072.html) — Ex-Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling gets 10-year sentence in infant son's death - [dailymail.com](https://dailymail.com/news/article-16215369/laken-snelling-kentucky-cheerleader-newborn-manslaughter.html) — Laken Snelling is sentenced to 10 years in prison in son's killing - [WBIR](https://wbir.com/article/news/crime/former-uk-student-receives-prison-sentence-for-infants-death/417-b32e6f84-97ab-4986-86dc-71cfa1899b53) — Former UK student receives prison sentence for infant’s death - [Globo](https://oglobo.globo.com/mundo/epoca/noticia/2026/10/16/estudante-que-matou-bebe-e-escondeu-corpo-em-armario-e-condenada-nos-eua.ghtml) — Student Who Killed Baby and Hid Body in Closet Is Convicted in the U.S. - [Bigodino](https://bigodino.it/attualita/laken-snelling-condannata-10-anni-morte-figlio-neonato-usa.html) — Laken Snelling Sentenced to 10 Years in the U.S. for the Death of His Newborn Son - [Newsit.gr](https://newsit.gr/kosmos/friki-sto-kentaki-22xroni-skotose-to-neogennito-moro-tis-to-evale-se-sakoula-skoupidion-kai-to-ekrypse-stin-ntoulapa/4800229) — Horror in Kentucky - 22-Year-Old Woman Killed Her Newborn Baby, Put It in a Garbage Bag and Hid It in the Closet - [Protothema](https://protothema.gr/world/article/1896184/skotose-to-neogennito-paidi-tis-kai-ekrupse-ti-soro-se-sakoula-katadikastike-se-10-hronia-fulakisi-22hroni-stis-ipa) — She Killed Her Newborn Child and Hid the Body in a Bag: A 22-Year-Old Woman in the US Was Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison - [SIC Notícias](https://sicnoticias.pt/mundo/eua/2026-10-16-deu-a-luz-na-residencia-universitaria-matou-o-bebe-e-escondeu-o-corpo-jovem-condenada-nos-eua-10f677fe) — She Gave Birth at the University Residence, Killed the Baby and Hid the Body: Young Woman Condemned in the United States - [WLWT](https://wlwt.com/article/kentucky-student-prison-baby-death-laken-snelling/74159619) — Former UK student sentenced to 10 years in prison in newborn's death - [Court TV](https://courttv.com/news/youre-going-to-have-a-lot-of-time-judge-sends-cheerleader-to-prison-for-killing-newborn-found-in-closet) — ‘You’re going to have a lot of time’: Judge sends cheerleader to prison for killing newborn found in closet - [thecount.com](https://thecount.com/2026/10/16/laken-snelling-jail-time) — Former Cheerleader Laken Snelling Sentenced To 10 Years In Newborn Son’s Death - [US Magazine](https://usmagazine.com/sports/news/laken-snelling-receives-prison-sentence-after-babys-death) — Former University of Kentucky Cheerleader Laken Snelling Sentenced to Prison After Baby’s Death - [The Kentucky Kernel](https://kykernel.com/129402/news/laken-snelling-sentenced-to-10-years-in-prison) — Laken Snelling sentenced to 10 years in prison - [vt.co](https://vt.co/news/us/laken-snelling-sentenced-newborn-death) — Former Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling jailed for infant son's death - [The Daily Wire](https://dailywire.com/news/former-kentucky-cheerleader-learns-her-fate-for-killing-newborn-hiding-body-in-closet) — Former Kentucky Cheerleader Learns Her Fate For Killing Newborn, Hiding Body In Closet - [WLKY](https://wlky.com/article/kentucky-student-prison-baby-death-laken-snelling/74158406) — Former UK student sentenced to 10 years in prison in newborn's death - [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/10/16/us-news/cheerleader-laken-snelling-learns-her-fate-after-killing-newborn-son-found-stuffed-in-trash-bag) — Cheerleader Laken Snelling learns her fate after killing newborn son found stuffed in trash bag - [WKYT](https://wkyt.com/2026/10/16/former-uk-student-sentenced-following-earlier-guilty-plea) — Former UK student sentenced for baby’s death following earlier guilty plea - [LifeNews.com](https://lifenews.com/2026/10/16/laken-snelling-only-sentenced-to-10-years-in-prison-for-killing-her-baby) — Laken Snelling Only Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Killing Her Baby - [k105.com](https://k105.com/2026/10/16/former-uk-student-athlete-sentenced-for-killing-her-newborn-baby) — Former UK student/athlete sentenced for killing her newborn baby - [Lex18 NBC](https://lex18.com/news/covering-kentucky/laken-snelling-sentenced-to-10-years-in-infant-death-case) — Laken Snelling sentenced to 10 years in infant death case - [TMZ](https://tmz.com/2026/10/16/laken-snelling-sentenced) — Laken Snelling Gets 10-Year Sentence After Pleading Guilty to Manslaughter ## Questions **What was Laken Snelling sentenced to?** Laken Snelling was sentenced to 10 years in prison. She pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. **How was the baby's body found?** The baby's body was found in August 2025 by Laken Snelling's college roommates. It was discovered wrapped in a towel inside a black plastic bag in a closet at her off-campus home. **What did Laken Snelling say in court?** During her plea hearing, Laken Snelling stated, "Instead of helping him, I ended his life." She also mentioned being under significant emotional stress and that the baby's arrival was unexpected. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/laken-snelling-sentenced-to-10-years-for-newborn-sons-death. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Laken Snelling sentenced to 10 years for newborn son's death", https://mediabias.news/politics/laken-snelling-sentenced-to-10-years-for-newborn-sons-death