Podcast Summary: Kentucky Cheerleader Horror - The Case of Lakin Snelling

Podcast: Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield
Host: Ashleigh Banfield
Episode: Kentucky Cheerleader Horror: 21-Year-Old College Student Accused of Hiding Newborn In Her Closet
Date: September 4, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

Ashleigh Banfield explores the unsettling phenomenon of young women concealing pregnancies, often resulting in tragic outcomes, centering on the high-profile case of Lakin Snelling—a University of Kentucky cheerleader accused of hiding the corpse of her newborn in her closet. Banfield draws from her decades of crime reporting, sharing insights, legal complexities, and parallels to other notorious cases, and examines the social, psychological, and legal factors underpinning these tragedies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Lakin Snelling Case: A Kentucky Tragedy

• Background: Lakin Snelling, 21, senior cheerleader at the University of Kentucky, secretly gave birth and allegedly concealed her newborn’s corpse in a closet.
  • "You picture her smiling at pep rallies. You don’t picture someone like this standing in a courtroom accused of hiding the body of her dead baby." (02:18)
• Incident Details:
  • Police responded to a Lexington home (Aug 27) and found a black trash bag in a closet with the baby’s body and soiled cleaning supplies. (02:50)
  • Snelling admitted to giving birth and cleaning up the scene. (03:08)
  • Charges: abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant—but notably, no murder charge yet, pending autopsy and further investigation. (03:20)
    • "Investigators usually have to figure out a little bit more in the evidence column before they can lay a charge like that." (03:34)
• Legal Status:
  • Snelling posted $100,000 bond and was put under house arrest at her parents’ home in Tennessee. (04:19)
  • First court appearance (Sep 2): described as dressed in “a red cocktail dress, full makeup, full hair” and “barely looked up as her lawyer entered a not guilty plea.” (04:47–05:21)
• Medical Examiner's Update:
  • Preliminary autopsy completed but “the coroner could not determine the exact cause of death. Not yet anyway.” (05:30)
  • The investigation continues, focusing on whether the baby was born alive or stillborn—a critical legal distinction.
    • “They can tell in an autopsy if that baby had oxygen in his lungs. So…that would rule out any argument that Lakin Snelling could make that the baby was stillborn. Right?” (06:19)

2. Legal Complexities: When is it Murder?

• Mark Geragos, renowned defense attorney, explains the legal burden involved:
  • “If you can’t prove a live birth, you can’t get to murder. And…the charges they’ve got right now…I think this is about as much as they’re going to be able to charge her with.”
    – Mark Geragos, 08:34–09:22
• Banfield points out that in cases of concealed birth, the line between tragedy and criminality hinges on medical evidence (oxygen in the baby’s lungs, etc.).

3. The Pattern: Young Women, Secret Pregnancies, Concealment, and Death

• Banfield shares her personal reporting history, noting she’s covered “a dozen girls who’ve done this. Some of them got away with it and some of them did not.” (01:02)
• She recounts a story from early in her career:
  • A teenage girl in Canada secretly gave birth twice, concealing both pregnancies and outcomes from her family and community. (10:32–12:50)
• The pattern often involves girls “while living right there under their [family’s] noses.” (09:50)
  • “You think, how on earth could they not be in prison for life? Some people might say no, I don’t agree. But regarding evidence, there’s a lot you can tell in a death investigation after a birth.” (07:03)

4. Comparative Case Studies

Banfield references multiple high-profile cases to underscore patterns and legal outcomes:

• Brooke Skylar Richardson (Ohio, 2017):
  • Cheerleader acquitted of murder, convicted of corpse abuse after burying her newborn; claimed stillbirth—jury believed her. (13:26)
• Emily Weaver (Ohio, 2015):
  • College student, gave birth in a sorority house, put newborn in trash bag; convicted of aggravated murder, life without parole. (14:26)
• Alexis Avila (New Mexico, 2022):
  • Caught on surveillance throwing her newborn in a dumpster; baby survived, Avila sentenced to 16 years. (15:02)
• Alexi Treviso (New Mexico):
  • Gave birth in hospital bathroom, hid newborn in trash can, child died. Arrested for first-degree murder and tampering.
  • Legal twist: key statements and footage ruled inadmissible due to physician-patient privilege, complicating prosecution. (17:50–21:00; explained at 25:03–25:33)
• Melissa Drexler (New Jersey, 1997, “Prom Mom”):
  • Gave birth in the restroom during prom, left newborn in trash, resumed the dance; pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, served three years. (25:36)
• Megan Huntsman (Utah):
  • Over a decade, secretly gave birth to six babies, killed them, and hid their bodies in her garage. Serving life in prison. (27:30)
    • “Let me repeat that. Megan did this six times. Different times. With six different babies that she had delivered.” (27:35)

5. Societal and Psychological Commentary

• Banfield reflects on how fear, panic, and isolation can push young women to deadly choices—especially when pregnancies are concealed from loved ones.
• She expresses empathy for their fear and “not knowing what to do and not having help,” while noting how her perspective has changed since becoming a mother herself. (12:50–13:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Shock of the Pattern:
  “There are so many cases that look so awful… you think, how on earth could they not be in prison for life?” (07:03)
• On the Prom Mom Case:
  “Don’t get me started on…I couldn’t even move after I gave birth. But she pulled the dress back on and went back to celebrate.” (25:44)
• Mark Geragos (Defense Attorney):
  “If you can’t prove a live birth, you can’t get to murder.” (08:52)

Timeline & Timestamps of Important Segments

• [01:19] – Introduction to Lakin Snelling’s case
• [03:08] – Lakin Snelling’s confession and arrest details
• [04:47] – Unusual court appearance of Snelling
• [05:30] – Coroner’s findings and ongoing investigation
• [08:34] – Attorney Mark Geragos explains evidentiary challenges
• [09:27] – Speculation about how the baby was found; unconfirmed reports about friends discovering the body
• [10:32]–[12:50] – Banfield recounts an early-career Canadian case with repeated pregnancies and infant abandonment
• [13:26] – Brooke Skylar Richardson case analysis
• [14:26] – Emily Weaver and Alexis Avila cases
• [15:22]–[22:08] – Deep dive: Alexi Treviso hospital incident (includes bodycam/nurse/police audio)
• [25:36] – Melissa Drexler (“Prom Mom”) and her sentence
• [27:30] – Megan Huntsman’s serial infanticide in Utah

Conclusion

Banfield closes with a chilling reminder: These cases, though rare, force society to confront the darkest corners of fear, secrecy, and human behavior—especially among young mothers. The Lakin Snelling case remains under investigation, emblematic of a troubling pattern that calls for deeper understanding and vigilant reporting.

“From Megan Huntsman to Alexi Treviso, from the prom mom to Brooke Skyler Richardson. These cases are all different, but they all share that one chilling thread: Young women, secret pregnancies, and babies who never had a chance.” (28:11)

Further Developments:
Lakin Snelling’s next court date is scheduled for September 26. Banfield promises continued coverage.

[Podcast’s Final Word]:

“The truth isn't just serious—it's drop dead serious.” (29:05)