Crowned One Day, Criminal the Next: Cheerleader And Beauty Queen Accused of Killing Newborn in Chilling Trash Bag Case

An arrest warrant has been issued for a former cheerleader and beauty queen in Kentucky after a grand jury indicted her on a manslaughter charge linked to the death of a newborn baby.

Prosecutors say Laken Snelling now faces serious criminal charges after investigators determined the infant was born alive before dying from asphyxia.

The indictment was handed down following a grand jury hearing in Lexington, where jurors reviewed evidence gathered by the Lexington Police Department during their investigation.

Authorities allege that Snelling secretly gave birth before placing the newborn in a trash bag.

According to investigators, medical findings presented to the grand jury indicated that the baby had been born alive prior to its death. Officials later determined the cause of death to be “asphyxia by undetermined means.”

That conclusion ultimately led the grand jury to vote to indict Snelling on a charge of first-degree manslaughter, a felony that carries a potential prison sentence of 10 to 20 years under Kentucky law.

Police have since issued an arrest warrant for Snelling as the case moves forward through the criminal justice system.

The allegations have shocked the local community, particularly because Snelling had previously been known in the area for her involvement in cheerleading and pageant competitions.

Authorities have not released further details about the circumstances surrounding the birth or how the case first came to the attention of law enforcement.

The investigation remains ongoing as officials prepare for the next stage of court proceedings.

If convicted, Snelling could face a decade or more behind bars, with the maximum penalty reaching 20 years in prison.