😱 SHOCKING TWIST in Cheerleader’s Tragic Case! 💔
A University of Kentucky cheerleader’s world unraveled when her newborn was found d3ad, hidden in a trash bag—but now, her ex-boyfriend’s DNA test could reveal a truth no one saw coming. Was this a heartbreaking accident, or is there more to this devastating story? 😢 The answers are starting to emerge, and they’re shaking a community to its core. Click below to uncover the latest in this gut-wrenching case. 👇
On August 31, 2025, a grim discovery in Lexington, Kentucky, sent shockwaves through a community and beyond. Laken Snelling, a 21-year-old senior at the University of Kentucky and a member of its competitive STUNT cheerleading team, was arrested after police found her newborn baby boy dead, wrapped in a towel and concealed in a black trash bag inside a closet at her off-campus apartment. The case, already steeped in tragedy, took a dramatic turn when Snelling’s ex-boyfriend, Izaiah Hall, provided a DNA sample to determine if he was the father of the deceased infant. As the investigation deepens, with an inconclusive autopsy and a web of unanswered questions, the story of Laken Snelling raises complex issues about youth, loss, and the search for truth. What led to this heartbreaking moment, and what does it reveal about the pressures of a seemingly perfect life?
An ex-boyfriend of University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling is testing his DNA to determine whether he is the father of the newborn found dead in her closet last month.
Snelling’s former beau, 21-year-old Izaiah Hall, gave police a DNA sample to determine whether it matches the baby boy his ex-sweetheart is accused of wrapping in a towel, stashing in a garbage bag and hiding in her closet at her off-campus residence in Lexington, his father told The Post.
“Lexington police had him come down to the station to give a sample,” said Hall’s father, Justin Smith, 45, declining to answer any additional questions.
Hall, a hulking quarterback at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn., dated the alleged killer mom before she started seeing former college basketballer Conner Jordan, the Daily Mail reported.
While it remains unclear who fathered the dead infant, Hall refused to confirm to the outlet, which first reported news of the paternity test, when his son’s relationship with Snelling ended.
“I don’t really want to go into any more detail at this stage,” he said.
Jordan, who once played basketball for King University and Tusculum University in Tennessee, was featured in a handful of posts on the 21-year-old cheerleader’s social media accounts in the months before her Aug. 31 arrest.
It’s unclear when they started dating and Jordan appears to have deleted his social media accounts in the wake of his girlfriend’s headline-making bust.
Snelling was charged with concealing the birth of an infant, tampering with physical evidence, and abuse of a corpse, charges to which she has since pleaded not guilty.
The incoming college senior, who was a member of the STUNT team, was cuffed after cops responded to a report of an unresponsive infant at the home.
She reportedly admitted to police she covered up the birth by cleaning up all the evidence and tossing the supplies in the same black trash bag as the newborn.
An autopsy has since deemed the baby’s cause of death inconclusive.
In her last TikTok post June 25, Snelling included an emoji of a mother holding a baby under her list of “goals” beside a wedding ring, house and cash.
The heartless new mom was released from jail on a $100,000 bond and then ordered to remain under house arrest at her parents’ home in Tennessee until her next court appearance on Sept. 26.
A Devastating Discovery
The call came in around 10:30 a.m. on August 27, 2025. Lexington police responded to a report of an unresponsive infant at a residence on the 400 block of Park Avenue, near the University of Kentucky’s campus. What they found was chilling: a newborn boy, pronounced dead at the scene, wrapped in a towel and hidden inside a black trash bag in a closet. According to the arrest citation, Snelling admitted to giving birth and attempting to conceal it by cleaning up evidence and placing it, along with the infant, in the trash bag. The image is haunting—a young woman, known for her athletic prowess and vibrant social media presence, at the center of an unthinkable tragedy.
Snelling, a native of White Pine, Tennessee, was charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. These Class D felonies carry potential penalties of one to five years in prison and fines up to $10,000. She pleaded not guilty at her arraignment on September 2, was released on a $100,000 bond, and ordered to home incarceration at her parents’ home in Jefferson City, Tennessee, without an ankle monitor. Her next court appearance is set for September 26, but the case is far from resolved. The Fayette County Coroner’s Office, led by Gary Ginn, conducted an autopsy on September 3, but the results were inconclusive, requiring “extensive microscopic analyses” to determine the cause and manner of death. Was the infant stillborn? Did Snelling give birth to a living child? Or was there another explanation? These questions remain unanswered, fueling speculation and debate.
The DNA Twist
Adding to the case’s complexity is the involvement of Izaiah Hall, Snelling’s ex-boyfriend. Hall, a 21-year-old quarterback at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee, provided a DNA sample to Lexington police to determine if he is the father of the deceased infant, according to his father, Justin Smith. Speaking to the Daily Mail from the family’s home in Newport, Tennessee, Smith confirmed the test was underway but declined to elaborate, saying, “I don’t know anything on this and we don’t know if Izaiah is the father or not.” Hall, a 6’2”, 190-pound athlete who attracted scouting attention in high school, dated Snelling before she began a relationship with Connor Jordan, a 24-year-old former college basketball player. The timeline of their relationship and its end remains unclear, but the DNA test introduces a new layer of intrigue. Could Hall hold a key to understanding the infant’s origins, or is this a red herring in an already convoluted story?
Snelling’s relationship with Jordan also draws attention. The couple appeared in loved-up social media posts as recently as June 2025, including a TikTok video where they danced together, Jordan kissing her cheek as she mouthed lyrics to Megan Moroney’s “Wonder.” Some images showed Snelling with what appeared to be a slight stomach bump, prompting speculation about a pregnancy, though no public announcement was made. Jordan, who played basketball at King University and Tusculum University, has since deleted his social media accounts, and it’s unknown if he has provided a DNA sample or remains in a relationship with Snelling. The uncertainty about the infant’s father underscores the case’s complexity, with two men potentially linked to a tragedy neither may have anticipated.
A Complicated Past
Beyond the legal charges, Snelling’s story is complicated by allegations about her past. Former classmates from White Pine, Tennessee, where she attended Jefferson County High School, have described her as an “appearance-obsessed serial bully.” Sydney Kite, a 20-year-old who attended school with Snelling, told the Daily Mail that Snelling targeted her sister and others, allegedly attempting to run over a friend with her Jeep and driving some students to transfer schools to escape her harassment. “She was obsessed with her appearance, very obsessed with being popular and fitting in,” Kite said. “If you didn’t have a certain amount of money or popularity, you weren’t in Laken’s circle.” Another community member, Jennifer Ricker, echoed these claims on Facebook, alleging Snelling “always treated my kids like trash” and “has never been held accountable.”
These accusations paint a stark contrast to Snelling’s public persona as a University of Kentucky cheerleader and Interdisciplinary Disability Studies major. Her TikTok posts, including one from June 25, 2025, listed life goals with emojis of a wedding ring, a house, money, and a mother bottle-feeding a baby, hinting at dreams of motherhood. The juxtaposition of these aspirations with the grim reality of her arrest has sparked intense public reaction, from sympathy for a young woman in distress to outrage over the infant’s fate. Social media comments on her TikTok flooded with criticism, reflecting the polarized sentiment surrounding the case.
The Legal and Ethical Questions
The legal case against Snelling hinges on her actions after giving birth, not the cause of the infant’s death, which remains undetermined. Under Kentucky law, concealing the birth of an infant and abuse of a corpse involve hiding or mistreating a deceased body, while tampering with evidence suggests an intent to obscure the birth. Snelling’s admission to police that she cleaned up and hid the infant aligns with these charges, but the lack of a clear cause of death complicates the narrative. Was she overwhelmed, scared, or acting with intent? Kentucky’s strict abortion laws, which allow the procedure only to save a woman’s life or prevent disabling injury, have led some to speculate about a possible self-managed abortion, though no evidence supports this theory.
The inconclusive autopsy adds another layer of mystery. Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn emphasized the need for thorough investigation, noting the case’s impact on communities in Kentucky and Tennessee. “This death affects many lives,” he said, underscoring the sensitivity of the situation. Another coroner, Jimmy Cornelison, told WKYT that determining the cause could take weeks or months, as microscopic tests examine factors like water in the lungs or heart conditions. The absence of clear answers leaves room for speculation, but rushing to judgment risks oversimplifying a complex human story.
A Community Grapples with Grief
The University of Kentucky confirmed Snelling was a senior and STUNT team member for three seasons but withdrew from the school and team after her arrest. The campus, still reeling from the start of the fall semester, has been thrust into an unwanted spotlight. For Snelling’s family, the ordeal is deeply personal. Her father, Terry, was seen holding her hand as they left the courtroom, where she appeared in a bright pink dress, a stark contrast to the somber charges. The decision to forgo an ankle monitor during her home incarceration reflects judicial leniency, but the public’s perception is less forgiving.
The case also raises broader questions about mental health, societal pressures, and support for young women facing unexpected pregnancies. If Snelling was pregnant, why did she not seek help? Were there signs missed by those around her? The stigma of unplanned pregnancies, especially for a public figure like a cheerleader, can be immense, particularly in a conservative state like Kentucky. While it’s too early to draw conclusions, the tragedy highlights the need for accessible resources and open conversations about reproductive health.
Looking Ahead
As Snelling awaits her September 26 hearing, the investigation continues. The DNA test results from Izaiah Hall could clarify the infant’s paternity, but they may not answer the deeper question of what happened in that apartment. The NTSB’s methodical approach ensures all evidence is examined, but for now, the community is left with grief and uncertainty. The infant, a boy whose life ended before it began, remains at the heart of this story, a reminder of the fragility of life and the weight of choices.
For those following the case, the coming weeks may bring new revelations. If you have information, Lexington Police encourage anonymous tips via Bluegrass Crime Stoppers at (859) 253-2020. In the meantime, Laken Snelling’s story serves as a sobering reminder that behind every headline is a human being—flawed, complex, and caught in a moment that will define them forever.