Tragic Incident at Minnesota Daycare
A disturbing case has emerged from Minnesota involving a daycare worker who is accused of suffocating a toddler just days before his birthday. Police have indicated that Thea Loudemia Russell, 18, sought attention through this horrific act.
At a press conference, Savage Police Chief Brady Jewell revealed that Russell allegedly confessed to deliberately suffocating two kids at the now-closed Rocking Horse Ranch daycare center in Savage last fall.
On September 22, 2025, Russell reached out to the authorities, claiming that 11-month-old Harvey Muklebust was not breathing. He was taken to a local hospital but was pronounced dead shortly before noon. Surprisingly, earlier that same morning, a girl had also been found at the daycare unresponsive and with blood around her nose and mouth.
Jewell explained that law enforcement had not been informed about the girl’s condition initially, as her episode three days earlier was assumed to be a sporadic health issue.
While police rushed to aid the girl, her parents later took her for treatment themselves during the second incident. Russell’s strange behavior at the scene raised suspicions and steered the investigation toward her as a person of interest.
After a thorough investigation lasting three months, which involved multiple agencies including a behavioral analysis unit, authorities delved deep into Russell’s troubling past.
It turned out she had a history of attention-seeking behaviors—such as making pointless 911 calls and setting fires—that had raised red flags in the past.
When interrogated, Russell reportedly admitted to suffocating Muklebust and the girl as a means to garner attention. She also allegedly confessed to two other attempted murders connected to the first victim, as well as the murder of Harvey.
Remarkably, Russell had only started working at the daycare three weeks prior to the tragic events.
Harvey, known affectionately as “Harve Monster,” would have celebrated his first birthday on September 27th. His family described him as a source of “pure happiness and sunshine,” noting that his greatest joy came from being around loved ones.
“Harvey had an infectious smile that could light up any room,” his family shared in a heartfelt obituary.
In a press conference, Harvey’s grandmother, Julie Muklebust, emotionally recounted the small reminders of her grandson, including “fingerprints” and “drool stains” that the family is not ready to erase. She expressed that they miss him deeply but find comfort in believing he watches over them.
“We still ask ourselves, ‘Why did it have to be you?’ We carry the pain of losing you every day, but we’ll always fight for justice in your name,” she said.
Currently, Russell is being held at the Scott County Jail facing a charge of second-degree murder.
