Baby Found Dead in Kentucky Athlete's Closet: Cause of Death Update
New information surrounding the tragic death of a University of Kentucky cheerleader's baby has been shared.
One week after Laken Ashlee Snelling was arrested in connection with a dead infant found hidden in a closet, the Fayette County Coroner's Office shared the results of a preliminary autopsy for the newborn in a press release, according to NBC News.
And while the tests were able to determine that the child was a boy and was born on Aug. 27, officials said his cause of death remains "inconclusive," per the outlet.
"I understand the community’s concern and sensitivity surrounding the death of a child," county coroner Gary W. Ginn said in a Sept. 4 statement shared with NBC News. "This death affects many lives in our neighboring state of Tennessee, as well as those in the Commonwealth. We are currently conducting a thorough and methodical death investigation to ensure all facts are carefully considered."
Snelling, 21, was arrested on Aug. 27 after authorities responded to a call about an unresponsive baby at a home in Lexington, K.Y.
“Around 10:30 a.m., officers were dispatched for an unresponsive infant at a residence in the 400 block of Park Avenue,” Lexington police said in a Aug. 31 press release. “When officers arrived, they located an infant that was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
The child, according to an arrest citation obtained by NBC affiliate WLEX, was discovered "wrapped in a towel inside of a black trash bag.” The citation also noted that Snelling, after being read her Miranda rights, “admitted to giving birth” to the child, as well as to "concealing the birth by cleaning any evidence, placing all cleaning items used inside of a black trash bag, including the infant, who was wrapped in a towel."
In connection with the incident, the college athlete pleaded guilty to abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant, per court documents obtained by NBC News Sept. 4. She was released on bond Sept. 2 and is currently on house arrest, per the outlet.
E! News attempted to locate a lawyer for Snelling for comment at the time of her arrest but did not hear back.
(E!, NBC News and WLEX are all part of the NBCUniversal family.)
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