Former Kentucky Cheerleader Begins Prison Sentence After Newborn Son’s Death — Her Possible Release Date Revealed

Laken Snelling, a former University of Kentucky cheerleader, has reported to custody to begin serving a 10-year prison sentence following the death of her newborn son. Prison records indicate she could become eligible for parole in February 2034, potentially allowing her to leave prison before completing the full sentence.

Snelling, 22, reported to the Fayette County Detention Center in Lexington, Kentucky, on October 16, 2026, the same day she was sentenced. She is being held there while awaiting assignment to a state prison.

The sentence followed her guilty pleas to manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of a child. She received 10 years for manslaughter and one year for each of the other offenses, with all sentences to run concurrently.

A Discovery That Shocked Her Roommates

The case began on August 27, 2025, when police were called to the off-campus residence where Snelling lived. Her roommates had reportedly discovered blood in her bedroom and became concerned about unusual noises coming from the room.

Officers found the body of a newborn boy wrapped in a towel inside a trash bag in a bedroom closet. An autopsy determined that the infant’s cause of death was asphyxia by undetermined means.

Snelling initially pleaded not guilty but changed her plea in August 2026. During her sentencing hearing, she acknowledged responsibility for her son’s death, saying, “I ended his life.”

The baby was named McCoy Cade Hall. His father and members of his family attended the sentencing hearing and spoke about the loss of a child they never had the opportunity to know.

Family Speaks Out in Court

The baby’s father, Izaiah Washington, described the pain his family continues to experience. He said the loss was difficult to put into words and acknowledged that nothing could change what had happened.

The child’s paternal grandmother also delivered an emotional statement, reflecting on the birthdays, milestones and everyday moments her grandson would never experience.

Prosecutors had recommended a total 13-year sentence, but the judge imposed 10 years, with the additional one-year sentences running at the same time.

According to prison records cited by PEOPLE, Snelling’s possible parole eligibility date is February 21, 2034. Eligibility does not guarantee release; the final decision will depend on the applicable parole process and requirements.

Source: PEOPLE