18-year-old Savage day care employee confessed to

An 18-year-old former employee of a Savage, Minnesota, day care confessed to “intentionally suffocating” two children, one of whom died, last fall, police say.

The employee, identified as Theah Loudemia Russell, is in custody and will face a second-degree murder charge, as well as additional charges, Savage Police Chief Brady Juell said. Charges are expected to be officially filed on Thursday. 

The employee at Rocking Horse Ranch called 911 on Sept. 22, 2025, to report a child — later identified as 11-month-old Harvey Muklebust — was not breathing. Authorities responded and the boy was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

Three days prior, Savage police went to the day care on a report of an unresponsive 4-month-old with blood under their nose and mouth, the chief said. Two hours before the 911 call about Muklebust, that same child was found in a similar state, though police were not called to respond.

Juell said Russell’s “behavior and actions at the scene immediately raised suspicion, drawing investigative focus to her as the primary person of interest.”

Authorities investigated Russell’s background, finding “a documented history of attention-seeking behavior,” including “nonsensical” 911 calls, firestarting and “erratic behavior toward other children,” Juell said.

In an interview with police, Russell confessed to “intentionally suffocating” Muklebust and the other child “in an attention-seeking act,” according to Juell. He added the employee “confessed to the attempted murder of our first victim on two occasions and to the murder of Harvey Muklebust.”

Russell had only worked at the day care for three weeks before Muklebust’s death, Juell said.

After the infant’s death, Rocking Horse Ranch owner Lisa Weiss told WCCO she had no comment.

According to the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the state suspended Rocking Horse Ranch’s license on Sept. 23, and that suspension is under appeal.