A baby found dead in the closet of a home near the University of Kentucky was likely born alive and delivered at full term, despite his mother initially telling authorities otherwise.

Laken Snelling, a 21-year-old former cheerleader and member of the University of Kentucky STUNT team, was arrested on Aug. 31, days after officers with the Lexington Police Department discovered her infant’s remains “wrapped in a towel inside of a black trash bag,” which had been left in a closet, according to the police report.

Snelling, identified by authorities as the baby’s mother, has since been charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant.

She pleaded not guilty during an initial court appearance earlier this month and was released on

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