New photographs show former University of Kentucky STUNT athlete Laken Snelling being dropped off at her mother’s home in Tennessee, where her mother waited outside holding a McDonald’s bag. The images surfaced as Snelling, 22, faces a first-degree manslaughter charge — but not murder — in the death of her newborn son, whose body was discovered in a trash bag hidden in a closet at her off-campus Lexington home last August.

Snelling allegedly told investigators she gave birth alone in her bedroom around 4 a.m. on August 27, 2025, and passed out on top of the infant afterward. When she woke up, she claimed the baby was blue and unresponsive. The Kentucky Medical Examiner determined the newborn boy was born alive and died from asphyxia by undetermined means. A Fayette County grand jury upgraded the original charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant to first-degree manslaughter, citing evidence of intentional abuse while noting the actions occurred under “extreme emotional disturbance.”

Snelling has pleaded not guilty and was released on a $10,000 bond. She is currently under house arrest at her parents’ home in Tennessee and is no longer enrolled at the University of Kentucky or affiliated with its athletics program. The new photos, showing her arrival at her mother’s residence with her mother standing outside holding fast food, have drawn mixed reactions online — some expressing sympathy for the family’s pain, others questioning the circumstances.

Izaiah Hall, Snelling’s ex-boyfriend and a former college quarterback, recently provided a DNA sample to police to determine whether he is the biological father. Results have not been released publicly. The case has also drawn renewed attention after resurfaced Halloween 2024 photos showed Snelling wearing a fake baby bump and “Kentucky Mom” pin as a costume, an image many now find disturbingly prescient.

Former high school classmates have alleged Snelling was an “appearance-obsessed serial bully,” with one claiming she once tried to run a student over with her Jeep. These accounts, while not formally tied to the criminal proceedings, have fueled public debate about her character and state of mind.

Roommates described a chaotic night, exchanging frantic Snapchat messages about loud noises lasting nearly an hour. Some had suspected Snelling might be pregnant but never confronted her directly. Police obtained a search warrant for her Snapchat account during the investigation.

The tragedy has shaken the University of Kentucky community. The competitive STUNT program once featured Snelling prominently. University officials have offered counseling resources to students and staff affected by the news.

Legal experts note that first-degree manslaughter charges in concealed-birth cases often hinge on complex questions of intent, mental health, and postpartum distress. The “extreme emotional disturbance” language in the indictment may provide some mitigation at sentencing if Snelling is convicted, though penalties remain significant.

As the case moves toward an April 2026 arraignment, the new images of Snelling being dropped off at her mother’s home with a simple McDonald’s meal have added a humanizing — yet deeply emotional — layer to a story already filled with tragedy. The newborn’s brief life ended hidden away in a closet, while questions about what exactly happened after Snelling allegedly passed out continue to linger.

Whether the DNA results from Izaiah Hall, the Halloween costume photos, or the bullying allegations will play a role at trial remains to be seen. For now, the focus remains on the manslaughter charge and the heartbreaking circumstances surrounding the infant’s death.