The father of a newborn baby killed by former University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling has spoken publicly about his devastating loss after she was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Izaiah Hall addressed the courtroom during an emotional sentencing hearing on Friday, October 16, as Snelling learned how long she would spend behind bars following the death of their son.
The 22-year-old former college cheerleader had previously pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and three additional offences connected to the baby's death in August 2025.
Hall, who was accompanied by members of his family, used the hearing to speak about the pain of losing his child.
His statement also revealed a deeply personal detail about the newborn that had not previously been widely reported.
What did the father of Laken Snelling's baby say?
Speaking during the sentencing hearing at Fayette Circuit Court in Kentucky, Izaiah Hall described the loss of his newborn son as something that continued to cause unimaginable pain.
He told the court that his grief was "unexplainable".
Despite the circumstances surrounding his son's death, Hall also made it clear that he did not wish further suffering upon Snelling.
"I don't wish the worst on Laken," he said.
The statement came as his family stood alongside him in court, offering support during an emotional moment.
A member of Hall's family also spoke about the way the baby's body had been discovered, delivering a particularly painful reminder of the child's humanity.
"He was not garbage," the family member said.
The remark referred to the discovery of the newborn's body inside a plastic rubbish bag in a closet at Snelling's off-campus residence.
Hall's family also referred to the baby as Cade, revealing the name they had chosen for him.
The name had not previously been widely reported during the investigation and subsequent court proceedings.
What sentence did Laken Snelling receive?
On October 16, Fayette Circuit Court Judge Diane Minnifield sentenced Snelling to 10 years in prison for first-degree manslaughter.
She also received one-year sentences for three additional offences:
The additional sentences are to run concurrently with the manslaughter sentence, meaning they do not increase her total prison term beyond 10 years.
The judge accepted the prosecution's recommended sentence for the manslaughter conviction.
Snelling was also informed that she would not be eligible for probation because the conviction was classified as a crime of violence.
According to reporting from the hearing, she may become eligible for parole consideration after serving approximately 85 per cent of her sentence.
That would amount to around eight and a half years, although parole eligibility does not guarantee release.
What did the judge say during sentencing?
Before delivering the sentence, Judge Minnifield addressed Snelling directly about the consequences of her actions.
She acknowledged that Snelling was still young and would have many years of life ahead of her.
However, the judge also emphasised that the baby's family would have to live with the loss permanently.
She described the emotional absence left by Cade's death as something that would never disappear.
Her remarks highlighted the lasting consequences of the tragedy for the child's father and relatives.
Following the sentencing, Snelling was escorted out of the courtroom by deputies to begin serving her prison term.
What happened to Laken Snelling's newborn baby?
The case began on August 27, 2025, when police were called to a property in Lexington, Kentucky, following the discovery of an unresponsive newborn.
Snelling was living in an off-campus residence while attending the University of Kentucky, where she had been a member of the competitive cheerleading programme.
According to investigators, her roommates had heard unusual noises coming from her bedroom during the night.
They later became concerned about what had happened and entered the room while Snelling was away from the property.
Inside a closet, they discovered a newborn baby boy wrapped in a towel and placed inside a black plastic rubbish bag.
Emergency services were contacted, but the baby was pronounced dead at the scene.
The discovery led to a police investigation into the circumstances of the birth and the child's death.
What did the medical examination reveal?
Following the discovery, the Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office conducted an examination of the baby's body.
Investigators subsequently reported that the newborn had been born alive.
The cause of death was identified as asphyxia by undetermined means.
Those findings became an important part of the investigation as authorities considered whether additional criminal charges were appropriate.
Snelling was initially charged with offences relating to the handling of the body and the concealment of the birth.
A first-degree manslaughter charge was later added in March 2026.
What did Laken Snelling admit in court?
During a court hearing on August 21, 2026, Snelling changed her plea and admitted responsibility for the baby's death.
She told the court that she had been experiencing significant emotional distress and that the birth had happened unexpectedly.
"I was under a lot of emotional stress and my baby came unexpectedly," she said.
She then made an admission about her response after the baby was born.
"And instead of helping him I ended his life," Snelling told the court.
She acknowledged that she had deprived the newborn of oxygen.
Snelling also admitted placing the baby's body inside the bag where her roommates later discovered him.
Her guilty plea resolved the criminal case without the need for a trial.
Why did investigators question her original account?
During the initial investigation, police received differing explanations from Snelling about what had happened during the birth.
She initially claimed that the baby had fallen to the floor and that she did not believe he was breathing.
In another account, she said she had lost consciousness and fallen on top of the newborn before waking to find him discoloured.
Investigators also examined electronic evidence, including deleted material from her phone relating to pregnancy and childbirth.
The discrepancies in her accounts became part of the wider investigation.
Her subsequent guilty plea meant that the case did not proceed to a jury trial where the evidence would otherwise have been examined in full.
Who is Izaiah Hall?
Izaiah Hall is a college football player who had previously been in a relationship with Snelling.
During the early stages of the investigation, questions emerged publicly about the identity of the baby's father.
Hall was reportedly asked to provide a DNA sample as investigators worked to establish paternity.
His appearance at the October 2026 sentencing hearing marked the first time he had publicly addressed the loss of his son.
Standing with members of his family, Hall spoke about the emotional consequences of the tragedy rather than focusing on demanding a harsher punishment.
His decision to speak publicly brought renewed attention to the people personally affected by the baby's death.
Why did the family reveal the baby's name?
During the sentencing hearing, Hall's family referred to the newborn as Cade.
The name offered a personal identity to a child who had previously been discussed in much of the reporting simply as Snelling's baby.
For the family, the hearing provided an opportunity to acknowledge the child as their son and relative, rather than only as the victim in a criminal case.
Their statements also highlighted the emotional consequences of a pregnancy and birth that had reportedly been concealed from people close to Snelling.
The revelation of Cade's name was among the most poignant moments reported from the courtroom.
What happens next for Laken Snelling?
With her guilty plea accepted and sentence imposed, Snelling has begun serving her prison term.
She was 22 years old at the time of sentencing.
Under the parole eligibility conditions reported from the hearing, she could potentially be considered for release after serving approximately eight and a half years.
Any future release would depend on the applicable rules and decisions of the relevant authorities.
For Hall and his family, however, the conclusion of the criminal proceedings does not bring an end to their grief.
Their statements during the hearing made clear that the loss of Cade will continue to affect them long after the sentencing itself.
Source: VT, October 17, 2026, including its reporting on the sentencing hearing and earlier court proceedings.
