A quiet Minnesota suburb has been rocked by a disturbing case involving the death of an infant and the alleged attempted suffocation of another child at a local daycare center. Authorities say an 18-year-old employee at a Savage-area childcare facility intentionally harmed two infants in what investigators describe as an effort to gain attention.
According to police, Theah Loudemia Russell had been working at the Rocking Horse Ranch child care center for just three weeks when the incidents occurred. On the morning of September 22, 2025, Russell called 911 to report that an 11-month-old boy, later identified as Harvey Muklebust, was not breathing. The child was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead shortly before noon.
Investigators later determined this was not an isolated incident. Earlier that same morning, a four-month-old infant at the same facility was found unresponsive with blood around her nose and mouth. It was the second such episode involving the baby in a three-day period. The first incident was initially believed to be a medical emergency, and the infant survived both episodes.
Police say Russell was the last person to have contact with both children before they stopped breathing, a detail that quickly raised alarm among first responders and investigators. Savage Police Chief Brady Juell said Russell’s behavior at the scene was unusual and immediately drew scrutiny, prompting a deeper investigation that lasted three months.
During that investigation, authorities uncovered what they described as a documented pattern of attention-seeking behavior by Russell, including prior erratic conduct, false emergency calls, and incidents involving fire-setting. When brought in for questioning, Russell allegedly admitted to intentionally suffocating both infants in an attempt to draw attention to herself.
While officials have not publicly named a specific psychological diagnosis, law enforcement sources indicated that the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit assisted in the case. The alleged behavior closely mirrors patterns associated with Munchausen by proxy, a condition in which a caregiver fabricates or causes illness in someone under their care to gain sympathy or attention.
Russell was arrested and now faces multiple charges, including murder. The Rocking Horse Ranch daycare has been shut down, and its license has been suspended by the state. No criminal charges have been filed against the facility or its owner, though the center is reportedly appealing the suspension.
“This is a heartbreaking case that has shaken our entire community,” Chief Juell said, expressing condolences to the Muklebust family and others affected. As the legal process moves forward, the case has reignited concerns about daycare oversight, employee screening, and child safety across Minnesota.
