18-Year-Old Minnesota Daycare Worker Confesses to Murdering an Infant

For months, a quiet Minnesota community wrestled with a haunting question after a string of medical emergencies at a local daycare ended in the death of an infant and left another child fighting to survive.

What initially appeared to be a tragic and inexplicable sequence of events has now taken a darker turn, as investigators say a confession has uncovered what truly happened inside the facility.

Authorities announced this week that a significant development has been made in the death of an 11-month-old boy at Rocking Horse Ranch Daycare in Savage, Minnesota, a development police say brings long-awaited answers in a case that has shaken families and first responders alike.

When a Routine Day Turned Tragic

Police were first dispatched to Rocking Horse Ranch Daycare on September 22, 2025, after a 911 call reported that an infant was not breathing.

The 11-month-old boy was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Meanwhile, just hours earlier, a 4-month-old girl at the same daycare had been found with blood around her nose and mouth, though police were not contacted at the time.

Three days before the 11-month-old boy's death, officers had also responded to the daycare after that same infant was found unresponsive. The incident was initially believed to be a medical emergency.

A Pattern Takes Shape

As investigators reviewed the timeline, troubling similarities emerged. During a press conference, Savage Police Chief Brady Juell revealed the pattern:

"Over the following three months, investigators conducted dozens of interviews with daycare staff, parents of children who attended, and various contractors associated with the facility, a clear pattern emerged."

He continued, "Thea Russell was a common denominator in each of these incidents. She had last contact with each of the affected children immediately prior to these events." Investigators then arrested Russell, who had been employed at the daycare for just three weeks.

What Investigators Say Led to Her Arrest

According to reports, the 18-year-old daycare employee confessed to intentionally suffocating two infants in what the police chief characterized as an attempt to draw attention, with one of the assaults resulting in a fatality.

"During the questioning, Thea confessed to intentionally suffocating the two children in an attention-seeking act. She provided detailed descriptions of how she carried out the attempts against the life of the first victim on two separate occasions, and she confessed to the murder of Harvey Mucklebust," Juell said during the press conference.

Russell is now charged with second-degree murder in Mucklebust's death, as well as first- and third-degree assault in connection with the 4-month-old girl who survived.

Who the Police Say Russell Is

During the conference, Juell said a deep investigation into Russell's background revealed a history of what he called "attention-seeking behavior."

"This revealed a documented history of attention-seeking behavior, including her making multiple 911 calls, reporting nonsensical incidents, and simply hanging up," he said.

Authorities also cited past incidents involving starting fires at a church camp and erratic behavior toward other children. During questioning, Russell confessed.

“Thea Russell has confessed to the attempted murder of our first victim on two occasions and to the murder of Harvey Mucklebust,” Juell said, noting that further details will be outlined in the formal complaint.

What City Leaders and Prosecutors Are Saying

Savage Mayor Christine Kelly said the arrest marks a critical step forward for a grieving community. "Today marks a significant step forward in a case that has weighed heavily on our community for the last four months," the mayor said. "While nothing can undo what has happened, this arrest brings us closer to answers and accountability."

Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar said his office is finalizing the complaint. According to MPR News, Russell is currently being held in the Scott County Jail on a $3.5 million bail, and she is expected to return to court on February 4, 2026.

How Mucklebust’s Family Remembers Him

After officials finished speaking, the deceased’s grandmother, Julie Mucklebust, addressed reporters on behalf of the family.

"I am providing this statement on behalf of Harvey's dad and mom, Hunter and Catherine, his brother, and our entire family. First, we'd like to express our gratitude to the Savage Police Department and specifically Detective Andrew Dames and his investigative team for their tireless efforts to seek the truth in Harvey's death," the grandmother began.

"We appreciate the time, care, and compassion you have given our family. We would also like to thank the Scott County Attorney's Office, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner, the Minnesota BCA, FBI, and all the other agencies that assisted to providing a thorough investigation," she added.

"From the moment Harvey was born, he filled our world with sunshine," the grieving grandma continued. "His passion for playing, infectious laugh, loving heart put a smile on everybody's face."

With emotion and tears in her eyes, she reflected, "Harvey's fingerprints are on my sliding glass door, and his drool stains still show on his crib sheets. Those are the little things that I'm not ready to wash away. We miss you more than anything in this world."

"Every day we live with the pain of what happened to you. But we promise that every day we will say your name. Every day we will continue to fight for you, and in the end, we will make sure that justice has been served," she concluded.

As the emotional press conference came to a close, attention turned from the family’s grief to questions about the daycare where the incidents unfolded and whether the facility would face consequences.

What Happens to the Daycare

After Mucklebust's grandmother spoke about her grandson, she and her family left the press conference, and Chief Juell allowed reporters to ask questions.

Chief Juell confirmed that Rocking Horse Ranch remains closed but is not facing criminal charges. During the news conference, when asked whether the daycare or its owners were under investigation, he said:

"The answer is no. At this time, we do not have a case against the owner or anybody there. The case, I believe, is still with family services, who holds the responsibility of investigating daycares and the cases with them. But at this time we have not any investigation into the owners or the daycare [sic]."

Even as investigators outlined the legal path ahead, the focus for many in the community remained on honoring the deceased’s life and supporting the family left behind.

The Community Honors Mucklebust's Life

Maggie Bauler and Caitlin Scott organized a GoFundMe campaign to support Mucklebust’s parents with funeral and medical expenses, and the campaign has raised more than $37,000 toward a $40,000 goal.

A celebration of life was held in October 2025 at Ballard Sunder Funeral & Cremation, where the family asked guests to wear colorful attire in honor of the deceased’s colorful soul.

According to the funeral announcement, he is survived by his parents, Hunter and Catherine Muklebust (Dada and Mama); his older brother, Declan Muklebust; his grandparents, Kelly and Julie Muklebust (Papa and Nana), and many other loving relatives and friends.

While the community continues to mourn and seek healing, law enforcement officials stressed that the criminal case itself is far from over.

What Comes Next

Juell emphasized that the case is ongoing. "This case isn't done," he said. "Our investigation continues, and we will do everything we can for a successful prosecution in this case."

As the case moves into the courts, the investigation that once sought answers now shifts toward accountability. For a community still grappling with grief and disbelief, officials say the path forward will be long, measured, and deliberate.

While legal proceedings unfold, Mucklebust's family and neighbors continue to honor his short life, holding onto memories even as they wait for justice to take its course.