Univ. of Kentucky Cheerleader Drops Out of School, 1 Week After Her Newborn Baby Was Found Dead in Her Closet By Charlotte Phillipp

University of Kentucky senior Laken Snelling has dropped out of school, just days after she last appeared in court for allegedly hiding her dead newborn baby in her closet.

According to the Lexington Herald Leader, university spokesperson Jay Blanton confirmed on Friday, Sept. 5, that Snelling withdrew from the Lexington-area school and is no longer a member of its STUNT team.

The 21-year-old competed on the school’s competitive cheer STUNT team for three years, according to an official team roster.

The school did not clarify when Snelling unenrolled.

Snelling was arrested on Sunday, Aug. 31, after her newborn was found in the closet, “wrapped in a towel inside of a black trash bag,” according to the arrest citation reviewed by PEOPLE.

She is charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant, the Lexington Police Department said in a news release. 

Snelling, originally from White Pine, Tenn., was placed on house arrest at her parents’ home in Jefferson City, Tenn., and appeared in court on Tuesday, Sept. 2, where she pleaded not guilty, KBTX reported.

The next day, Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn announced that the results of a preliminary autopsy were inconclusive.

The death investigation remains pending the results of further studies, he said.

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Authorities previously identified Snelling as the newborn’s biological mother.

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With the cause and manner of death and other details still unknown, questions remain about when Snelling gave birth, if she had a miscarriage, if the baby was born alive or stillborn and if she knew she was pregnant.

The alleged crime came to light when officers were dispatched to Snelling’s off-campus home on Wednesday, Aug. 27, after police received a report about an unresponsive infant who was pronounced dead at the scene, police said in the release.

Snelling allegedly admitted to giving birth, cleaning up afterward and throwing all the evidence in a black trash bag, “including the infant, who was wrapped in a towel,” according to the arrest citation.

After her arrest, Snelling was held at the Fayette County Detention Center, but she was released on Sept. 2 on $100,000 bond, according to court documents previously reviewed by PEOPLE.