Minnesota Daycare Worker Made One Confession That Has Every Parent In America On Edge

Many parents are forced to trust daycares to keep their children safe while they work.

One Minnesota family was just devastated in horrific fashion.

And this Minnesota daycare worker made one confession that has every parent in America on edge.

Rocking Horse Ranch daycare worker confessed to killing Harvey Muklebust for attention

Theah Loudemia Russell worked at Rocking Horse Ranch daycare for exactly three weeks.

That's how long it took for her to kill 11-month-old Harvey Muklebust.

Savage Police Chief Brady Juell announced Russell's arrest this week after a three-month investigation that started when Russell herself called 911 on September 22, 2025.

Harvey wasn't breathing.

He died at the hospital just days before his first birthday.

The investigation uncovered something far worse than anyone imagined.

Russell confessed to "intentionally suffocating" Harvey and another 4-month-old infant at the daycare "in an attention-seeking act."

She'd attacked the 4-month-old girl twice in the three days before Harvey's death.

The first incident happened September 19 when the baby was found with blood and foam around her nose and mouth.

Parents rushed her to the hospital where she recovered and went home.

The family brought her back to Rocking Horse Ranch on Monday morning healthy and well.

Two hours later she was found unresponsive again with the same blood and foam.

Police weren't called that time.

Three days after that, Harvey was dead.

Theah Russell's background check failures and Munchausen by proxy pattern authorities missed

Police dug into Russell's history after her behavior at the scene raised red flags.

What they found should terrify every parent who trusts a daycare with their child.

Russell had "a documented history of attention-seeking behavior" according to Chief Juell.

She made nonsensical 911 calls and hung up repeatedly.

She started fires at a church camp.

She showed "erratic behavior toward other children."

All before Rocking Horse Ranch hired her.

Experts who study this pattern know exactly what they're looking at.

Russell exhibits textbook signs of factitious disorder imposed on another, commonly known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

Perpetrators create medical emergencies in victims to gain attention and appear as devoted caregivers.

Medical literature documents that caregivers with this disorder often work in healthcare settings or daycares.

They're "master deceivers and manipulators" who convince professionals to ignore warning signs, according to Dr. Marc Feldman who wrote multiple books on the disorder.

The stereotype fits Russell perfectly – young, working in childcare, history of attention-seeking, creating repeated medical crises.

A 2025 study in the journal Forensic Medicine warns that 10% of victims die when caregivers act out this disorder.

Experts say perpetrators target the most vulnerable victims who can't defend themselves.

Infants under one year old.

Exactly like Harvey and the 4-month-old girl Russell attacked.

Minnesota requires daycare workers to pass comprehensive background checks before employment.

Criminal history, sex offender registries, child abuse registries – all supposed to catch dangerous people before they work with kids.

Russell apparently passed those checks despite her documented pattern of dangerous behavior.

The system designed to protect children failed Harvey Muklebust.

His grandmother Julie spoke at the press conference announcing Russell's arrest.

"Harvey was such a blessing to our family and his death has left a tremendous hole in our hearts," Julie said through tears.

"Harvey's fingerprints are on my sliding glass door and his drool stains still show on his crib sheets. Those are the little things I am not ready to wash away."

She promised the family would say Harvey's name every day and fight for justice.

Russell sits in Scott County Jail facing second-degree murder charges for Harvey's death.

Additional attempted murder charges are expected for the attacks on the 4-month-old.

Minnesota suspended Rocking Horse Ranch's license the day after Harvey died.

The facility remains closed.

Savage Mayor Christine Kelly wiped tears from her eyes at the press conference.

"While nothing can undo what has happened, this arrest brings us closer to answers and accountability," Kelly said.

The mayor's right that nothing undoes what happened.

Harvey's family will never get to see him turn one year old, take his first steps, say his first words.

They'll never watch him grow up.

Because a daycare hired someone with a documented history of creating emergencies and hurting children.

And that worker spent three weeks suffocating babies until one of them died.

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Sources:

• Adan Salazar, "Minnesota Day Care Employee Confesses to 'Intentionally Suffocating' Infant for Attention," InfoWars, January 15, 2026.
• Brady Juell (Savage Police Chief), quoted in press conference, January 15, 2026.
• "Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another," MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.
• Marc Feldman, "Could Your Patient Be a Victim of Munchausen by Proxy?" Medscape, January 15, 2025.
• "When Care Becomes Abuse: A Forensic–Medical Perspective on Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy," Forensic Medicine, May 15, 2025.
• Cristina Laila, "Minnesota Daycare Worker Murders Baby Boy," The Gateway Pundit, January 15, 2026.
• "Police: Savage daycare worker intentionally suffocated infant to death," Bring Me The News, January 14, 2026.