Minnesota day care worker accused of suffocating child for attention
A Minnesota day care worker has been accused of fatally suffocating a child for attention.
On September 22, 2025, an 11-month-old child, Harvey Muklebust, was pronounced dead after reports he wasn’t breathing at Rocking Horse Ranch in Savage, Minnesota.
Savage Police Chief Brady Juell on Wednesday confirmed at a press conference that Theah Loudemia Russell has been arrested in connection with Muklebust’s death.
“We have probable cause to believe Theah Russell intentionally suffocated these children on three occasions to seek attention,” Juell said.
Newsweek reached out to Rocking Horse Ranch, Savage Police Department and the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families by email to comment on this story outside of normal business hours.
Why It Matters
While the case is not connected to fraud in the state, the incident comes amid increased interest in day care centers in Minnesota. On December 26, YouTuber Nick Shirley released a 42-minute video that quickly went viral, alleging that almost a dozen taxpayer-funded day care centers in Minnesota were not providing any service amid broader concerns about alleged fraud in the state. The video attracted the attention of lawmakers and political figures. The Rocking Horse Ranch day care center was private and not taxpayer funded, however.
What To Know
Juell said Russell, aged 18, was involved in incidents with two other children at the center. He said in the past she had also intentionally set fires and called 911 reporting “nonsensical incidents” in other cases. He called her a “common denominator” and said she had only been employed at the center for three weeks.
He said investigations into Russell revealed a “history of attention-seeking behavior” and “erratic behavior.”
He added that Russell “confessed to intentionally suffocating the two children in an attention-seeking act” following her arrest on Tuesday and “confessed to the murder of Harvey Muklebust.”
“This is a heartbreaking case that has shaken our entire community,” he said.
The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families suspended Rocking Horse Ranch’s license after Muklebust’s death.
What People Are Saying
Christine Kelly, the mayor of Savage, said at a press conference: “While nothing can undo what has happened, this arrest brings us closer to answers and accountability.”
Savage Police Chief Brady Juell said at the press conference: “Based on the totality of the evidence in this three-months investigation, we have probable cause to believe Theah Russell intentionally suffocated these children on three occasions to seek attention, and that third incident tragically resulted in the death of Harvey Muklebust.”
What Happens Next
Juell said Russell is being held at the Scott County Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder. A fundraiser for Muklebust’s family has garnered over $35,000 in donations.
