Flatmates 'found cheerleader's newborn baby dead' while she went to McDonald's

A cheerleader went to pick up a McDonald's order while her flatmates discovered her newbornbaby dead inside a wardrobe, a court has been told.

Laken Snelling, 21, faces charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant after police allegedly discovered the body of the newborn baby boy infant in her bedroom. Prosecutors allege in recently submitted court documents that the former University of Kentucky cheerleader gave birth around 4am on 27 August.

Her flatmates heard loud noises coming from her bedroom at the time, according to an affidavit. Snelling reportedly told police she was awake for about half an hour after giving birth before she passed out and fell asleep on top of the baby.

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When she woke up, the baby boy was "turning blue and purple," leading her to believe he was dead, the affidavit states. Snelling wrapped the baby up "like a burrito and laid it on the floor next to her because it gave her a little comfort in the moment," WKYT reported.

The young mum then allegedly fell asleep again and woke up at 7:30am to her alarm.

According to the affidavit, it was at this point Snelling placed the baby in a towel and the placenta in a black bin bag and put it in her wardrobe.

In a conversation with her flatmates, Snelling claimed the loud noises they heard were merely her fainting and falling.

Police records show she then left the flat, missed her 9:30am lecture and ordered food from McDonald's via their app, before collecting it from the restaurant.

Snelling did visit a student clinic afterwards but didn't go inside, according to the affidavit.

While she was out, her flatmates entered her room and discovered a "blood-soaked towel on the floor and a plastic bag containing evidence of childbirth," prosecutors claim. An unidentified individual dialled 999 and described the baby as 'cold to the touch'.

When Snelling returned home, she was apprehended by police.

Following an investigation, police confiscated Snelling's phone and allegedly found she had made several internet searches "including different things pertaining to pregnancy", while establishing multiple images of her in labour had been deleted. This led investigators to believe "other items could have also been deleted in an attempt to hide any evidence of the pregnancy, birth and newborn baby."

During a visit to University of Kentucky Labour and Delivery Unit, Snelling is alleged to have told staff that she "guessed" the baby was alive and that she heard the baby "make a whimper". Authorities stated the baby "appeared to be full-term" upon finding the deceased infant in the wardrobe.

Snelling pleaded not guilty to charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant at a hearing in early September.

She was back in court on Friday, where she gave up her right to a preliminary hearing.

Snelling is currently out on bail and has been instructed to stay under house arrest.