MN Daycare Worker Charged With Homicide

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An 18-year-old former childcare employee in Minnesota has been charged with second-degree murder and assault following the death of an 11-month-old infant and the alleged assault of a 4-month-old. The defendant, Theah Loudemia Russell, was employed for approximately two to three weeks. Law enforcement stated the acts were committed for the purpose of seeking attention. Russell’s arrest and subsequent charges led to the suspension of the facility’s license and prompted a community focus on the transparency and due diligence of employee background check processes.

Key Findings from the Investigation

Theah Loudemia Russell was charged with second-degree murder in the death of 11-month-old Harvey Gene Muklebust.
Russell faces additional first- and third-degree assault charges related to a 4-month-old girl.
The defendant was employed at the facility for a period of two to three weeks.
The daycare’s license was suspended by the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families following the incident.

Details of the Alleged Acts and Confession

The defendant admitted to Savage police to intentionally suffocating 11-month-old Harvey Gene Muklebust on September 22, 2025, telling investigators, “I choked him, and he stopped breathing.” The official statement detailed that Russell also attempted to suffocate a 4-month-old girl on two separate occasions in September 2025. Police Chief Brady Juell described these as deliberate “attention-seeking acts” that resulted in one death and the hospitalization of the surviving child.

Newly hired DEI care worker suffocated baby to death 'to seek attention' during her first few weeks on the job: Copshttps://t.co/7CbJ9kTEf0 https://t.co/i0lhoadYEs pic.twitter.com/PQ82SkhlvR

— MRS WILKES PATTERN RECOGNITION LAB (@ItsMrsWilkes) January 16, 2026

Investigative Review of Prior Behavior

A three-month investigation by law enforcement included a review of the defendant’s documented history, which included reports of setting fires at a church camp and making nonsensical 911 calls. The individual had been employed at Rocking Horse Ranch Childcare for a short tenure when the alleged acts occurred. Initial reports categorized the breathing emergencies as medical episodes, but an examination of patterns by investigators linked Russell to each incident, leading to a formal investigation into Harvey’s unexplained death.

Facility Licensing and Hiring Process Concerns

The case has initiated a public review of Minnesota’s childcare hiring practices. Following the infant’s death, the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families suspended the daycare’s license, resulting in the facility’s closure. The brief period of employment and the subsequent legal filings have raised questions regarding the efficacy of current pre-employment screening and behavioral assessment procedures.

Legal Update and Official Statements

Scott County Attorney Ron Hochever filed second-degree murder charges against Russell on January 15, 2026, alongside first- and third-degree assault charges for the attacks on the surviving infant. Police Chief Juell commented on the severity of the charges, stating that “this person should never be free again,” as the defendant remains in Scott County Jail awaiting a bail hearing. Authorities continue to monitor the welfare of other children who were under the defendant’s care.

This case emphasizes the importance of systematic background checks and comprehensive behavioral assessments for all childcare employees who have access to infants.

Watch the report: MN Daycare Worker Accused of Fatally Suffocating Baby Days Before His First Birthday