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People Furious Over Judge’s Decision In The Laken Snelling Baby Case After New Evidence Surfaces
A Kentucky judge has modified release conditions for Laken Snelling, a 21-year-old former University of Kentucky cheerleader accused of discarding her newborn in a closet.
“Snelling must contact Pretrial Services within seven days to facilitate the commencement of electronic monitoring,” the order stated.
The update received polarizing reactions from netizens, many of whom argued that Snelling should be charged with m**der.
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Highlights
- Former University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling must now wear an electronic monitor while awaiting a grand jury’s decision about her shocking case.
- A judge recently modified her release terms, ordering full house arrest at her father’s home.
- Online reactions remain divided, with some calling the court’s decision too lenient, considering the gravity of her actions.
A judge has mandated that Snelling be subjected to electronic monitoring as her case continues
Image credits: Lexington Police Department
According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, Judge Melissa Moore Murphy ordered Snelling to begin wearing an electronic monitor within seven days and to remain under house arrest.
The decision reverses an earlier arrangement that allowed her to split time between both parents’ residences.
Image credits: WBIR Channel 10
The latest order requires her to wear an electronic monitor and remain on house arrest at her father’s home in Tennessee as she awaits a grand jury’s decision on whether she will be indicted.
The court has not publicly explained why the conditions of her house arrest were modified.
Image credits: laken_snelling
First Assistant County Attorney John Hyne, who submitted the proposed order, did not respond to requests for comment, the publication noted.
Snelling’s case involves allegations that on August 27, she gave birth alone “to a baby which fell onto the floor of her bedroom,” according to search warrant affidavits cited by PEOPLE.
Authorities have alleged that Snelling wrapped her baby in a towel and placed it in a trash bag along with her placenta. She then hid the baby in a closet and left her off-campus home to attend class.
Her roommates later found blood in the room and alerted police, leading to Snelling’s arrest.
She was initially charged with a**se of a c**pse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant, but has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Previous reports have revealed that Snelling had been researching hidden pregnancies on the internet
Image credits: laken_snelling
Separate filings obtained by WKYT-TV have revealed that investigators found internet searches for “concealed or hidden pregnancy” on Snelling’s phone in the days leading up to the alleged incident.
The device also contained images related to pregnancies and Snelling while she was in labor. Some of the photos, however, had been deleted from her device.
Image credits: laken_snelling
Police noted that the deletions led them to believe “other items could have also been deleted in an attempt to hide any evidence of the pregnancy, birth and newborn baby.”
According to a Us Weekly report, Snelling later “admitted to giving birth” and 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.”
At the time of her arrest, Snelling was still enrolled at the University of Kentucky. She was also a member of the school’s STUNT cheerleading team.
By early September, however, a spokesperson from the University of Kentucky confirmed that Snelling was no longer enrolled in the school. She was also no longer part of the STUNT team.
Despite leaving the school, Snelling was joined by about ten fellow students during a court appearance on September 26 in an apparent show of support.
Her classmates attended the proceedings, though they did not speak to the media, according to WLWT-5.
Image credits: laken_snelling
Snelling is currently out on a $100,000 bond as she waits for the grand jury’s decision
Image credits: laken_snelling
Snelling remains out on a $100,000 surety bond as she awaits a grand jury’s decision on whether she will face formal indictment.
Her defense attorney has declined to comment on the ongoing proceedings, while legal experts have stated that the grand jury’s decision will determine whether her case will proceed to trial or if it will be dismissed.
Image credits: Law&Crime Network
Until then, Snelling will remain confined to her father’s home under electronic monitoring. The restriction, however, has proven polarizing, with some critics arguing that it was far too lenient.
“She should be charged with m**der. Why isn’t she in jail like most m**derers would be?” one commenter wrote. Another argued, “An alleged stillborn birth is not a c**me. Attempting to conceal said alleged stillbirth and going about your day, a c**me worth paying for.”
Netizens shared their thoughts on Laken Snelling’s case on social media
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FreeTheUnicorn 5 months ago
If the court doesn't think she's a flight risk, or a risk to the community, being on house arrest is pretty normal, if you can pay the bail. The only people who should be in jail before they are convicted are those who can be shown to be so dangerous, the risk to the public outweighs the infringement on civil liberties and due process. Jail before trial is meant to be for extreme cases. As guilty as it seems she is, she's entitled to a trial and shouldn't be punished until she's actually found guilty. It's a terrifying day in America when so many people are rooting against the presumption of innocence in the courts
Petra Peitsch 5 months ago
Imagine her being a homeless woman, with 0 chance to have any of normal and real defense. And in plus imagine her being in the same siruation, but not caucasian. Are you aware of the issues binging you up, or are you Murican? It's up to you ....
Load More Replies...
Dill 5 months ago
I don't know American law but electronically tagging her and full house arrest at one property hasn't improved her current lot as far as I can tell. The decision reverses an earlier arrangement that allowed her to split time between both parents’ residences. Why be furious about this change? She's waiting to find out if she'll be charged with m****r (I'm not commenting on that aspect, I don't know enough about the case or the evidence there is) and if she is, it will go to trial. Changing her current conditions makes no difference to these aspects. They can't just lock her up without examining the evidence or without a fair trial. This is just one stage in a long process and hopefully she'll get the outcome she deserves.
Roni Stone 5 months ago
I think the outrage and uproar are from the perceived double standard for pretty young white women and literally every one else in this nation. If a woman of color was in this situation, the general feeling is that she would definitely be in jail right now. I kind of agree with that feeling, too. She gets to be home with her family where someone else would be in a cell.
Load More Replies...
FreeTheUnicorn 5 months ago
If the court doesn't think she's a flight risk, or a risk to the community, being on house arrest is pretty normal, if you can pay the bail. The only people who should be in jail before they are convicted are those who can be shown to be so dangerous, the risk to the public outweighs the infringement on civil liberties and due process. Jail before trial is meant to be for extreme cases. As guilty as it seems she is, she's entitled to a trial and shouldn't be punished until she's actually found guilty. It's a terrifying day in America when so many people are rooting against the presumption of innocence in the courts
Petra Peitsch 5 months ago
Imagine her being a homeless woman, with 0 chance to have any of normal and real defense. And in plus imagine her being in the same siruation, but not caucasian. Are you aware of the issues binging you up, or are you Murican? It's up to you ....
Load More Replies... Dill 5 months ago
I don't know American law but electronically tagging her and full house arrest at one property hasn't improved her current lot as far as I can tell. The decision reverses an earlier arrangement that allowed her to split time between both parents’ residences. Why be furious about this change? She's waiting to find out if she'll be charged with m****r (I'm not commenting on that aspect, I don't know enough about the case or the evidence there is) and if she is, it will go to trial. Changing her current conditions makes no difference to these aspects. They can't just lock her up without examining the evidence or without a fair trial. This is just one stage in a long process and hopefully she'll get the outcome she deserves.
Roni Stone 5 months ago
I think the outrage and uproar are from the perceived double standard for pretty young white women and literally every one else in this nation. If a woman of color was in this situation, the general feeling is that she would definitely be in jail right now. I kind of agree with that feeling, too. She gets to be home with her family where someone else would be in a cell.
Load More Replies...
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