FRIDAY NIGHT SPECIAL: BEAUTY-QUEEN-CHEERLEADER'S BABY DEAD IN CLOSET, CASE HEADS TO GRAND JURY

New details are emerging in the case of a 21-year-old college student and cheerleader from the University of Kentucky accused of hiding her newborn inside her college apartment closet. Laken Snelling's case is on its way to a grand jury. The panel is expected to hear evidence in late January. The grand jury will likely be asked to indict Snelling on the three charges she initially pleaded not guilty to, and there’s possibly a count of murder or manslaughter depending on the newborn's autopsy results. Laken Snelling is arrested after her infant is found dead in a trash bag inside the closet. An autopsy report only deepens the mystery surrounding the infant's death because the results are found to be inconclusive. Snelling posted baby bump pics before her infant was found dead. Authorities allege Snelling gave birth in secret, wrapped her baby in a towel, placed him in a trash bag, and left him in her closet. According to an arrest report, Lexington police were called to a home on Park Avenue for an unresponsive infant on Wednesday. Police said they found a baby's body in a closet, wrapped in a towel inside a black trash bag. The UK cheerleader is now charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. Court records show Snelling took selfies during the birth. Joining Nancy Grace today: Josh Kolsrud - Criminal Defense Attorney and Former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Founder of Kolsrud Law Offices; Facebook and YouTube @KohlsrudLawOffices   Dr. Bethany Marshall - Psychoanalyst, Author: "Deal Breaker,” featured in hit show: "Paris in Love" on Peacock; Instagram & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, Twitter: @DrBethanyLive    Dr. Kendall Crowns -  Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), Host of Podcast, "Mayhem in the Morgue," and Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University)   Chris Byers - Private Investigator and Owner of Byers Investigative Services, Former Police Chief in Johns Creek, Georgia (25 years as police officer) Germania Rodriguez - Chief US Reporter, DailyMail.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shocking evidence and video released from the King Road home where four University of Idaho students were slaughtered in the off campus house by Bryan Kohberger. The "deal with the devil" phrase used in the title refers to the controversial "plea deal" accepted by Bryan Kohberger in July 2025.  The convicted murderer and "wanna be rapper" cowardly saves his on life from death "penalty" in exchange for a guilty plea and life in prison without parole. This outcome was met with public outrage and mixed reactions, feeling the state made an unfavorable deal by removing the possibility of capital punishment.  The body camera footage publicly released in August 2025, shows the initial entry of officers into the crime scene and their discovery of the victims. It captures the raw, immediate aftermath and the shock of the first responders and the distress of surviving roommates on the scene, though significant portions are redacted and victims' faces obscured. The footage provides insight into the layout of the house and the conditions at the time of discovery. Follow Crime Stories with Nancy Grace for all the latest breaking crime news. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Woman facing second-degree murder charges after her 17 dogs maul a man in his own front yard. A Pennsylvania man was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly tried to solicit a 15-year-old girl for sex. An Indiana police officer was arrested Wednesday night on a domestic battery charge. An Arkansas woman has been charged with capital murder after an 8-month-old boy reportedly died in her care on Tuesday. Sydney Sumner reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeffrey Epstein's brother, Mark Epstein, and various survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse, who have been advocating for transparency and full release of all government files, speak out. The initial release faced criticism from victims' attorneys for being heavily redacted, incomplete, and largely containing previously public information. And some survivors expressed the roadblocks they face trying to find information related to their own case. As more documents and photos are released relating to the investigation into sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, additional names of high-profile individuals emerge. Mark Epstein has more questions and is concerned that his brother Jeffrey's death was not by suicide. Files being released remain an ongoing process, with lawmakers and citizens continuing to push for full transparency and accountability.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A son fresh out of jail allegedly confesses to a brutal slaughter! He says a 'demonic' presence forced him to beat his elderly dad to death, pour wax on him & stuff his corpse in a rug. But that wasn't his only victim... A mom with a history of mental illness in on the run abroad - her 4 tots in tow...to save them from "end times." Plus, a bandit in the buff...with a real beef for heists. Jennifer Gould reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Celeste Rivas Hernandez was just 13 when she was reported missing from her family home in Lake Elsinore, 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Celeste, at 5 feet, 3 inches tall and 120 pounds, is reported last seen wearing a black shirt, gray pants, and Hello Kitty sandals. And according to close sources and family members, she has a boyfriend named "David." Celeste, just entering her teen years, becomes friends with singer D4vd on social media and runs away to Hollywood to see the rising star. Celeste is returned home to Lake Elsinore by the police. Celeste remains in school for a month, then in May, "D4vd" (David Anthony Burke) picks Celeste up in a Tesla to go to the movies, and she never returns home. Residents in the Hollywood Hills grow tired of a dusty, 2023 Tesla Model Y with a Texas plate parked on the street for a month and report the vehicle. Days later, employees at Hollywood Tow notice a foul odor coming from the Tesla and call the police. When officers arrive, they discover human remains wrapped in plastic, placed in a bag, and hidden in the frunk of the Tesla. Police identify the person/victim as female, 5 feet 2, weighing 71 pounds, with wavy black hair, wearing a tube top and black leggings. Reports later state the remains are severely decomposed, partially dismembered, and identified as Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the child who was reported missing more than a year ago. Authorities report the Tesla is owned by singer/songwriter D4vd, who is reported to be living in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood near where the Tesla was abandoned. Follow "Crime Stories with Nancy Grace" for the latest updates in the Celeste Rivas Hernandez case and more crime cases of victims and loved ones seeking justice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 46-year-old Alaska cardiologist charged with possessing child sex abuse material was found dead inside his burned Wasilla home just one day after his release on bond, as investigators continue to determine how the fire and his death occurred. A Christmas Day drive through the Sierra nearly ends in disaster when an SUV spins out on icy Highway 50 and hangs over a steep drop, until an Air Force staff sergeant rushes in and helps save the trapped couple. A quick-thinking Long Island seventh grader escaped through a window and called 911 after realizing a burglar had broken into his home, leading police to arrest the suspect within minutes. Drew Nelson reports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Fyfe leaves his Massachusetts security screening job to follow his dreams of becoming a cop. New Orleans catches Fyfe’s eye, actually circulating ‘help wanted’ posters amid a hiring slump. Fyfe begins as a patrol officer in Algiers and works his way up the Fourth District Task Force into property crimes. After time on the Violent Crime Abatement Investigation team, Fyfe finally gets a shot in the homicide division, just as NOLA sees a huge spike in violent crime. While many detectives only handle about five homicide cases a year, Fyfe is assigned to nearly 40 cases over three years because he keeps clearing them! Since 2022, Fyfe has closed 24 consecutive cases he is assigned to, with his co-workers keeping track on a white board they’ve dubbed the "Fyfe-o-meter." Fyfe’s work helps the homicide division bring its ‘clearance rate’ from 40% in 2022 to above 76%. As 2024 nears the end, Thanh Vu tends her supermarket, but three "customers" are seeking more than groceries. Thanh, 61, was held at gunpoint while thieves emptied the register and pocketed cigarettes. When Thanh fights back, she’s shot and left for dead.  Joining Nancy Grace: James Fyfe - Homicide Detective, New Orleans Police Department, Criminal Law Degree from Northeastern University, and Master’s at Suffolk University; Increased Homicide Unit’s Clearance Rate from 40% to 75% from 2022-2024 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two teenagers in Florida have been indicted in the killing of 14-year-old Danika Troy of Pace, whose body was discovered earlier this month. Authorities say a reserve police officer and his wife are facing criminal charges after investigators concluded their biological and foster children were subjected to severe abuse. A man accused of fatally shooting his grandfather two years ago has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is expected to testify against his mother, whom prosecutors say orchestrated the killing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mother in St. Cloud, Florida, hires around-the-clock nursing care in her home to help care for her teenage daughter. The 18-year-old is developmentally disabled, non-verbal, quadriplegic with cerebral palsy, and has minimal vision. To cover the 24 / 7 schedule, nurses work 12-hour shifts, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. in their St. Cloud home. Checking on her disabled daughter Saturday morning, the mother notices red scratches around her daughter's mouth and eyelid; the scratches were not present the previous evening, and as a quadriplegic, it is impossible for her daughter to scratch herself in such a way, so she reviews surveillance camera footage from the previous night and calls the police immediately. The nurse during this time was Nia Ayers, a 24-year-old Licensed Practical Nurse who had cared for the girl on Friday night into Saturday morning for over a year. She has been licensed since 2021 and has not had a single disciplinary action or even a complaint in her nursing career. Joining Nancy Grace: Ben Powers - Criminal Defense Attorney, Facebook: Legal Powers PLLC, Dr. Jeff Kieliszewski - Forensic Psychologist, Author: “Darksides;" YouTube: "Dr. Jeff Kieliszewski, Forensic Psychologist"  Chief Douglas Goerke - St. Cloud Police Department in Florida; stcloudfl.gov Dr. Kendall Crowns -  Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), Host of Podcast, "Mayhem in the Morgue," and Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University) Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, "Crime Stories" See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.