'Cheerleader's newborn baby dead' by flatmates while she went to McDonald's

A cheerleader popped out to collect a McDonald's order whilst her flatmates discovered her newborn baby's body hidden inside a wardrobe, a court heard.

Laken Snelling, 21, faces charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant after police allegedly found the body of the newborn baby boy in her bedroom.

Prosecutors claim in recently filed court documents that the former University of Kentucky cheerleader gave birth around 4am on 27 August. The news comes as an aristocrat who killed baby gets staggering legal aid boost despite '£2.4m trust fund'.

Her flatmates heard loud sounds emanating from her bedroom at the time, according to an affidavit.

Snelling reportedly told police she remained conscious for approximately half an hour following the birth before she lost consciousness and fell asleep on top of the infant, reportsthe Mirror.

Upon waking, the baby boy was "turning blue and purple," causing her to believe he had died, the affidavit states.

Snelling wrapped the infant up "like a burrito and laid it on the floor next to her because it gave her a little comfort in the moment," WKYT reported.

The young mother then allegedly dozed off again and awoke at 7:30am to her alarm.

According to the affidavit, it was at this moment Snelling placed the baby in a towel and the placenta in a black bin bag and stored it in her wardrobe.

In a discussion with her flatmates, Snelling insisted the loud sounds they heard were simply her fainting and falling. Police records reveal she then departed the flat, skipped her 9:30am lecture and ordered food from McDonald's via their app, before collecting it from the restaurant.

Snelling did visit a student clinic afterwards but didn't go inside, according to the affidavit.

While she was out, her flatmates entered her room and discovered a "blood-soaked towel on the floor and a plastic bag containing evidence of childbirth," prosecutors claim.

An unidentified individual dialled 911 and described the baby as 'cold to the touch'.

When Snelling returned home, she was apprehended by police.

Following an investigation, police confiscated Snelling's phone and allegedly found she had made several internet searches "including different things pertaining to pregnancy", while establishing multiple images of her in labour had been deleted.

This led investigators to believe "other items could have also been deleted in an attempt to hide any evidence of the pregnancy, birth and newborn baby."

During a visit to University of Kentucky Labour and Delivery Unit, Snelling is alleged to have told staff that she "guessed" the baby was alive and that she heard the baby "make a whimper".

Authorities stated the baby "appeared to be full-term" upon finding the deceased infant in the wardrobe.

Snelling pleaded not guilty to charges of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant at a hearing in early September. She returned to court on Friday, where she waived her right to a preliminary hearing.

Snelling is currently out on bail and has been ordered to remain under house arrest.