Huge Twist Rocks Scandal of Cheerleader Who ‘Stuffed Dead Baby in a Closet’: All the Details of Her Relationship-Hopping Past as Star College QB Takes Shock DNA Test

The case of Laken Snelling, a 21-year-old former University of Kentucky cheerleader, has gripped the nation with a series of shocking developments. Arrested on August 30, 2025, for allegedly hiding her deceased newborn in a trash bag in her closet, Snelling’s story has taken a dramatic turn with new revelations about her romantic history and a surprising DNA test involving her ex-boyfriend, a star college quarterback. As the investigation deepens, details of her relationships and the events leading to her arrest paint a complex picture of a young woman at the center of a national scandal.

A Horrific Discovery in Lexington

On August 27, 2025, Lexington police responded to a call reporting a deceased infant at an off-campus residence near the University of Kentucky. Officers discovered a newborn boy, wrapped in a towel and stuffed inside a black trash bag, hidden in a closet at Snelling’s apartment. According to the police report, Snelling, a senior studying Interdisciplinary Disability Studies and a member of the university’s competitive STUNT cheerleading team, admitted to giving birth and attempting to conceal the infant’s body by cleaning the scene and placing it in the bag.

Snelling was charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant—class D felonies in Kentucky, each carrying a potential sentence of one to five years in prison and fines up to $10,000. She pleaded not guilty at a preliminary hearing on September 2, 2025, and was released on a $100,000 bond, ordered to remain under house arrest at her parents’ home in Jefferson City, Tennessee. Her next court date is set for September 26, 2025.

The Fayette County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy, but the results were inconclusive, with further microscopic analyses needed to determine the cause of death. The uncertainty surrounding the infant’s death has only intensified public interest in the case.

A Shocking DNA Test Twist

In a stunning development, Izaiah Hall, Snelling’s ex-boyfriend and a freshman quarterback at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee, has undergone a DNA test to determine if he is the father of the deceased infant. Hall, a 6’2”, 190-pound athlete who grew up just 17 miles from Snelling’s hometown of White Pine, Tennessee, dated her before she moved on to another relationship. His father, Justin Smith, confirmed to the Daily Mail, “There’s a DNA test, it’s already underway. Izaiah’s done this to find out if he was the father. I’m not sure when we’ll get the results.”

The DNA test has added a new layer of intrigue to the case, raising questions about the timeline of Snelling’s relationships and the paternity of the infant. Smith declined to disclose when Hall and Snelling ended their relationship, but their proximity in Tennessee and past moments together—such as a photo of Snelling beaming with a bouquet of flowers alongside Hall in a khaki suit and green bowtie—suggest a significant connection. Hall, who has since locked his social media accounts, has remained out of the public eye as the scandal unfolds.

A Relationship-Hopping Past

Snelling’s romantic history has come under scrutiny as reports reveal her rapid transition between high-profile partners. After dating Hall, she was linked to Jordon Connor, a 24-year-old former basketball star who played at King University, Tusculum University, and Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee. The couple appeared in a series of loved-up photos and videos, including a TikTok where they danced together to Megan Moroney’s song “Wonder,” with Snelling mouthing the lyrics, “the right one came along.” In one professional photoshoot from June 2025, Snelling and Connor were seen holding hands and gazing affectionately at each other, projecting the image of an all-American couple.

However, it remains unclear whether Snelling and Connor were still together at the time of her arrest or if Connor has taken a DNA test to determine paternity. The Daily Mail reached out to Connor, but he did not respond, and his father, Chris, refused to facilitate contact when approached at their family home in Morristown, Tennessee. Some of Snelling’s social media posts featuring Connor have since been removed, adding to the mystery of their current relationship status.

Snelling’s past relationships have drawn attention not only for their high-profile nature but also for their proximity to her hometown. Both Hall and Connor hail from the Knoxville area, near Snelling’s White Pine roots, suggesting a tightly knit social circle that has now been thrust into the spotlight.

A Troubled Past and Social Media Clues

Beyond her romantic entanglements, Snelling’s past has raised eyebrows. A former high school classmate described her as a “serial bully” who created a “reign of terror” during her teenage years, hinting at a complex personality behind her public persona as a cheerleader and student.

Social media posts have further fueled speculation. In her last TikTok post on June 25, 2025, Snelling listed her “goals” with emojis of a wedding ring, money, a house, and a mother holding a baby, suggesting aspirations for motherhood. Other posts from recent months appeared to show her sporting a baby bump, including one where she posed with a boyfriend in a field. These images, combined with her admission to police that she gave birth, have led to questions about her intentions and state of mind leading up to the incident.

In a bizarre twist, Snelling joined a Lexington-area Facebook group for babysitters in 2024, a detail that contrasts sharply with the charges she now faces. The juxtaposition of her public persona—cheerleader, student, and aspiring mother—with the allegations against her has left many grappling with the complexity of the case.

A National Scandal and Ongoing Investigation

The case has sparked widespread debate, particularly in the context of reproductive rights following the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade. Some experts fear that cases like Snelling’s, where women face criminal charges after pregnancy losses, may reflect a broader trend of treating such incidents as crime scenes.

Snelling’s decision to unenroll from the University of Kentucky, confirmed by a school spokesperson on September 8, 2025, marks another chapter in the unfolding saga. Her departure from the STUNT team and the university underscores the profound personal and legal consequences she now faces.

As the investigation continues, the results of Izaiah Hall’s DNA test could further reshape the narrative, potentially clarifying the infant’s paternity and shedding light on the circumstances of Snelling’s pregnancy. For now, the case remains a tragic and polarizing story, with Snelling’s relationship-hopping past and the shocking allegations against her captivating public attention.

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