{"id":574,"date":"2026-01-18T23:05:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T23:05:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bbncnews.online\/?p=574"},"modified":"2026-01-18T23:05:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T23:05:15","slug":"theah-loudemia-russell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/bbncnews.online\/?p=574","title":{"rendered":"Theah Loudemia Russell"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAVAGE, Minn. \u2014 Prosecutors in Minnesota have outlined disturbing details in a case involving the death of a nearly one-year-old boy and the injury of a younger infant at a Savage day care center, leading to multiple felony charges against a teenage employee.<\/p>\n

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Authorities say\u00a0Theah Loudemia Russell<\/strong>, 18, of Savage, has been charged with\u00a0second-degree murder<\/strong>,\u00a0first-degree assault<\/strong>, and\u00a0third-degree assault<\/strong>\u00a0in connection with the death of\u00a0Harvey Gene Muklebust<\/strong>\u00a0and the harm caused to a five-month-old baby girl.<\/p>\n

Harvey died on Sept. 22, just days before his first birthday.<\/p>\n

According to court records, the incidents occurred at\u00a0Rocking Horse Ranch Childcare<\/strong>, where Russell had been employed for approximately two to two-and-a-half months.<\/p>\n

She remains in custody on $3.5 million bail ahead of a Feb. 4 hearing in\u00a0Scott County District Court<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Police were first alerted at about 10:10 a.m. on Sept. 22 after receiving a high-priority medical call reporting that a baby was not breathing at the day care.<\/p>\n

An officer arrived to find a staff member holding Harvey, who appeared pale with bluish coloring around his mouth and no detectable pulse. CPR was initiated until fire crews and paramedics arrived.<\/p>\n

Harvey was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 11:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

Autopsy results from the\u00a0Hennepin County Medical Examiner\u2019s Office<\/strong>\u00a0were still pending as of Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n

During the investigation, officers learned of a prior medical emergency at the same facility on Sept.<\/p>\n

19 involving a five-month-old girl who had briefly stopped breathing before regaining airflow.<\/p>\n

She later returned to the day care on Sept. 22, where she began vomiting bloody mucus. Her family removed her from the center and had her hospitalized.<\/p>\n

A physician at\u00a0Masonic Children\u2019s Hospital<\/strong>\u00a0told police there were concerns of asphyxiation or airway obstruction, noting the infant had stopped breathing for up to 60 seconds.<\/p>\n

Investigators identified a common link between both incidents: Russell.<\/p>\n

According to the criminal complaint, she admitted during a January follow-up interview that she choked Harvey until he stopped breathing and acknowledged placing her fingers down both children\u2019s throats during the incidents.<\/p>\n

Russell was arrested on Jan. 13 following interviews conducted by local police and the\u00a0Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Authorities noted inconsistencies in her earlier statements and unusual behavior during walkthroughs of the day care, including a lack of emotional response and minimal concern about the investigation.<\/p>\n

Savage Police Chief\u00a0Brady Juell<\/strong>\u00a0said investigators believe Russell\u2019s actions were driven by attention-seeking behavior, citing a documented history that included false emergency calls, fire-related incidents at a church camp, and erratic conduct toward children.<\/p>\n

Following Harvey\u2019s death, state authorities suspended the license of Rocking Horse Ranch Childcare.<\/p>\n

Prior inspections by the\u00a0Minnesota Department of Human Services<\/strong>\u00a0had identified 11 violations, including sanitation and safety concerns, all of which were later corrected.<\/p>\n

Police emphasized that there is\u00a0no criminal investigation<\/strong>\u00a0involving the day care facility or its owners.<\/p>\n

At a news conference, Harvey\u2019s grandmother\u00a0Julie Muklebust<\/strong>\u00a0remembered the infant as a source of joy for his family.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the moment Harvey was born, he filled our world with sunshine,\u201d she said, describing his laughter, playful spirit, and loving nature.<\/p>\n

As the case proceeds through the courts, the tragedy has prompted renewed scrutiny of child care safety and background oversight in Minnesota, while a family and community mourn the loss of a child whose life was cut tragically short.<\/p>\n

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