The Hidden Birth: The Laken Snelling Case & The Psychology of Denial

When 21-year-old University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling gave birth alone in her apartment, what happened next stunned investigators. She wrapped her newborn in a towel, placed the body in a trash bag inside her closet — and then, according to court documents, ordered McDonald’s through an app and tried to go about her day. This episode digs into that impossible contradiction: how someone can experience the most traumatic moment of their life and immediately act as though nothing happened. Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott explore the psychological mechanics of shock, shame, and denial — and why the young brain, overwhelmed by fear and isolation, can make devastating choices it can’t comprehend. Is this a story of pure evil? Or of panic, immaturity, and a desperate attempt to keep life “normal” when everything has already collapsed? We’ll look at how identity, reputation, and fear of judgment can override rational thought, and why concealment often feels like the only option to a terrified young adult. This isn’t a story about excuses — it’s about understanding how fear rewires the human mind. #HiddenKillers #LakenSnelling #TrueCrime #PsychologyOfDenial #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #UniversityOfKentucky #ImpulseControl #CrimeAndPsychology #HiddenBirth Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872