Laken Snelling has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter over the death of her infant son.
The 22-year-old former University of Kentucky cheerleader was sentenced on Friday, according to local news reports. She also admitted charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant.
Snelling entered her guilty pleas in August, a year after her roommates found the baby’s body in her room. They had reportedly heard strange noises the previous night.
During the plea hearing, Snelling said: “I was [under] a lot of stress, and my baby came unexpectedly, and instead of helping him I ended his life.”
She also admitted that she had “deprived him of oxygen” before placing the baby and towels in a plastic bag after cleaning up following the birth.
Prosecutors had asked the judge to impose a 13-year sentence: 10 years for manslaughter and one year for each of the three other charges.
