Cheerleader Laken Snelling Sentenced to 10 Years for Newborn’s Death; Father Expresses Forgiveness

Former University of Kentucky Cheerleader Sentenced for Manslaughter

The case of Laken Snelling, a 22-year-old former cheerleader at the University of Kentucky, took a tragic turn when she was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter charges related to the death of her newborn son. The sentencing occurred in front of Judge Diane Minnifield at the Fayette County Circuit Court.

On August 27, 2025, Snelling gave birth to a baby boy in her off-campus apartment. Prosecutors reported that she suffocated the infant in a moment of panic. Initially denying the charges, Snelling changed her plea to guilty in August 2026, stating in court, “I deprived him of oxygen.”

As part of a plea agreement, the recommended sentence of 10 years was accepted, with the judge emphasizing the gravity of the crime. “This is a crime of violence that took the life of an innocent baby,” Judge Minnifield remarked, highlighting the emotional toll on both the perpetrator and the victim’s family.

The father of the baby, college quarterback Izaiah Hall, addressed the court, expressing a degree of forgiveness towards Snelling. “I don’t wish the worst on Laken. What happened is, it is what it is. I can’t change it,” he stated during the hearing.

Before the court, Hall noted that he had named the infant McCoy Cade Hall. The baby’s maternal grandmother described the child as a “perfectly healthy, beautiful baby boy” who should have had the opportunity to experience life.

During sentencing, Judge Minnifield informed Snelling that she would have “a lot of time to sit with her crime.” She stated that due to the violent nature of the offense, probation was not an option. “This loneliness… it’s never going to go away,” she added, urging her to seek guidance and strength through faith.

Snelling, who had been under house arrest since her initial arraignment in September 2025, was taken into custody immediately following the sentencing. She had earlier been released on a $10,000 bond but had accumulated 415 days of credit for the time spent under house arrest.

The harrowing events surrounding this case began when Snelling’s roommates reportedly heard noises associated with her labor, as she chose to give birth alone. Following the birth, Snelling attempted to conceal the evidence, cleaning the area and allegedly leaving the apartment to visit a local McDonald’s. The newborn was later discovered deceased by her horrified roommates, wrapped in a towel and concealed in a trash bag.

Snelling initially claimed that the child was stillborn but later admitted through court documents that she had panicked after birth. She asserted that she wrapped her baby and stayed beside him, but ultimately conceded that she had ended his life instead of seeking help.

After further investigations, the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s office determined that the baby was alive at birth but died from asphyxia. Snelling faced additional charges and was ultimately indicted for first-degree manslaughter, leading to the guilty plea in August 2026.