An 18-year-old former employee of a daycare centre in the United States has sent shockwaves through her community after confessing to the intentional suffocation of two children, leading to the death of an 11-month-old boy. The suspect, identified as Theah Loudemia Russell, is now in police custody and faces serious criminal charges.
A Tragic Sequence of Events at Rocking Horse Ranch
The horrifying incident unfolded at the Rocking Horse Ranch daycare in Savage, Minnesota. According to Savage Police Chief Brady Juell, the chain of events began on September 19, 2025, when police responded to a report of an unresponsive 4-month-old infant. The child was found with blood under its nose and mouth.
Just three days later, on September 22, 2025, Russell herself called 911 to report that another child, 11-month-old Harvey Muklebust, was not breathing. Authorities rushed to the scene and the boy was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Shockingly, police revealed that two hours before this fatal 911 call, the same infant had been found in a similar unresponsive state, but no emergency services were contacted at that time.
Confession and Disturbing Background
Chief Juell stated that Russell's "behavior and actions at the scene immediately raised suspicion," making her the primary person of interest. During the subsequent investigation, authorities uncovered a deeply troubling pattern in Russell's past.
Investigators found "a documented history of attention-seeking behavior," which included making nonsensical calls to 911, starting fires, and displaying erratic behavior towards other children. In a police interview, Russell confessed to the crimes, admitting she "intentionally suffocated" both Harvey Muklebust and the 4-month-old child "in an attention-seeking act."
Chief Juell confirmed, "She confessed to the attempted murder of our first victim on two occasions and to the murder of Harvey Muklebust." Disturbingly, Russell had been employed at the daycare for only three weeks before Muklebust's death.
Legal Repercussions and Fallout
Theah Loudemia Russell remains in custody and is expected to be formally charged on Thursday, January 15, 2025. The primary charge will be second-degree murder, with additional charges to follow.
The aftermath of the tragedy has been severe for the daycare facility. The Minnesota Department of Human Services suspended the license of Rocking Horse Ranch on September 23, 2025, a suspension which is currently under appeal. The daycare owner, Lisa Weiss, declined to comment when contacted by news media.
This case highlights catastrophic failures in safeguarding and the devastating consequences of severe behavioral issues in individuals entrusted with the care of vulnerable children.
