News out of Kentucky

The cause of death for a baby that authorities found hidden inside a closet at a University of Kentucky student's home is "currently undetermined," officials said.

The investigation into the baby's death remains open after a preliminary autopsy resulted in inconclusive findings, the Fayette County Coroner’s Office said in a new release on Sept. 3. While the autopsy for the infant was complete, Fayette County Gary Ginn noted that "extensive microscopic analyses are essential to determine the cause and manner of death."

"I understand the community’s concern and sensitivity surrounding the death of a child," Ginn said in a statement. "We are currently conducting a thorough and methodical death investigation to ensure all facts are carefully considered."

The investigation into the infant’s death began after Laken Snelling, 21, was arrested on Aug. 31 and accused of concealing the birth by hiding the baby’s body in her home near the University of Kentucky, according to the Lexington Police Department. Snelling has been charged with concealing the birth of an infant, tampering with physical evidence, and abuse of a corpse.

She was initially booked into the Fayette County Detention Center, and online court records indicated her surety bond was set at $100,000 on Sept. 1. Court documents obtained by WLEX-TV revealed that Snelling later posted bond and was on "home incarceration with no ankle monitor."

WLEX-TV reported that Snelling pleaded not guilty during her court appearance on Sept. 2 and was ordered to live with her parents at their home in Tennessee. Snelling is scheduled to appear in court again on Sept. 26 for a preliminary hearing, online court records showed.

Reports: Baby was found dead inside the closet

Officers were dispatched to Snelling's residence at around 10:30 a.m. local time on Aug. 27 after receiving a report of an unresponsive infant, according to the Lexington Police Department.

When officers arrived, they found a baby who was pronounced dead at the scene, the Lexington Police Department said. Police identified Snelling as the infant's mother.

Citing an arrest citation, WLEX-TV and WHAS 11 reported that Lexington police were dispatched to Snelling's home for a "deceased infant being located inside of a closet." The citation further detailed that the baby was found "wrapped in a towel inside of a black trash bag," according to the television stations.

WLEX-TV and WHAS 11 said investigators later interviewed Snelling, who allegedly admitted 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."

While the circumstances surrounding the birth and death of the baby remain unclear, Kentucky has had a strict abortion ban in place since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. The state law only allows physicians to perform abortions "in reasonable medical judgment to prevent the death or substantial risk of death" or to prevent "serious, permanent impairment to a life-sustaining organ of a pregnant woman."

It contains no exceptions for victims of rape or incest, nor allows abortions in cases when a fetus is severely malformed and unlikely to survive. Violating the law is punishable by felony charges and could result in up to five years in prison.

Who is Laken Snelling?

University of Kentucky spokesperson Whitney Siddiqi told the Louisville Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, that Snelling is a senior at the school. She is also a member of the school's STUNT Team.

STUNT Team is a competitive sport at the University of Kentucky and other universities across the country. Athletes focus on the technical components of cheer, doing partner stunts, pyramids, basket tosses, group jumps, and tumbling, according to STUNT.

Snelling is from White Pine, Tennessee, according to UK Athletics. She graduated from Jefferson County High School.

Contributing: Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal; Allison Kiehl, Knoxville News Sentinel

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Cause of death 'undetermined' for baby found at University of Kentucky student's home

Reporting by Caroline Neal and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY NETWORK / Louisville Courier Journal

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect