An 18-year-old day care worker is accused of causing the death of a baby just before his first birthday in an alleged bid for attention. Theah Loudemia Russell was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and felony assault in January. It was not clear if she had entered a plea or hired a lawyer.
The arrest followed a three-month investigation into the death of 11-month-old Harvey Muklebust, who was reported not breathing by Russell last September. Authorities began looking into the incident at Rocking Horse Ranch in Savage, Minnesota, after a similar incident involving another baby just days prior.
The baby girl in the earlier incident was taken to the hospital, seemingly recovering, before experiencing breathing difficulties again upon returning to the day care. The Minnesota Department of Human Services suspended the facility license due to concerns over child safety.
Savage Police Chief Brady Juell stated that Russell’s suspicious behavior made her a person of interest, revealing that she had been in contact with the affected children before the incidents. Investigations into Russell’s background and previous employment were conducted.
Chief Juell mentioned that there was evidence suggesting Russell intentionally suffocated the children for attention, leading to Harvey’s tragic death. Harvey was described as a joyful child in an obituary, with a fundraiser set up to cover funeral expenses. The community was deeply affected by the case.