In a tragic turn of events, an 18-year-old daycare worker from Minnesota has been taken into custody following the death of an infant in her care at the Rocking Horse Ranch childcare center. The young worker, Theah Loudemia Russell, faces serious charges after admitting to the suffocation of 11-month-old Harvey Muklebust last September.

Authorities report that Russell confessed to investigators that her actions were driven by a desire for attention. This shocking revelation was brought to light by the Prior Lake News Compass, which further details the unfolding of these distressing events.

The investigation into this heartbreaking case began on September 19. It was initiated when police were called to assist at the daycare after discovering a 4-month-old girl who was not breathing, with concerning signs of blood and foam around her nose and mouth. Fortunately, after being rushed to the hospital by her parents, the child was assessed, treated, and subsequently released without further complications over the weekend.

However, upon the child’s return to the daycare the following Monday, she was again found in a perilous state, unable to breathe, and required another trip to the hospital for emergency care.

In an alarming escalation, just two hours after these events unfolded, Russell herself placed a 911 call reporting that another child, young Muklebust, was also not breathing. Despite the immediate intervention by police and medical personnel, efforts to revive the boy were unsuccessful. He was transported to the hospital, where he tragically passed away at approximately 11:30 a.m.

“A clear pattern emerged,” Savage Police Chief Brady Juell. “She had last contact with each of the affected children immediately prior to these events.”

As investigators began to look into Russell’s background, they found a troubling pattern of attention-seeking behavior, which included calling 911 to report “nonsensical” incidents and hanging up, starting fires at a church camp, and behaving erratically toward other children.

Police arrested Russell on Tuesday, and she confessed to intentionally suffocating the two children as an attention-seeking act and provided details of how each was carried out, including the murder, Juell said.

Russell had worked at the day care center for just three weeks. The center lost its license and remains closed, although it is appealing the closure decision.

Russell is charged with murder for Muklebust’s death and assault for the child who survived.