Day-care worker confesses to 'intentionally suffocating' 11-month-old boy who died; it was 'an attention-seeking act': Cops

A day-care worker in Minnesota confessed to "intentionally suffocating" an 11-month-old boy who died last fall, police told WCCO-TV, adding that it was "an attention-seeking act."

Theah Loudemia Russell, 18, is in custody and will face a second-degree murder charge and other charges, Savage Police Chief Brady Juell told the station, which added that formal charges were expected to be filed Thursday.

Authorities investigating Russell's background found 'a documented history of attention-seeking behavior,' including 'nonsensical' 911 calls, fire-starting, and 'erratic behavior toward other children,' Juell added to the station.

A 911 call came from Rocking Horse Ranch in Savage on Sept. 22 reporting that a child — later identified as 11-month-old Harvey Muklebust — was not breathing, WCCO said.

Authorities responded, and the boy was taken to a hospital where he later died, the station said.

Three days before, Savage police responded to Rocking Horse Ranch on a report of an unresponsive 4-month-old, the chief told WCCO. In addition, just two hours before the 911 call about the 11-month-old boy, the same 4-month-old child was found unresponsive, but police were not called, the station said.

RELATED: Day-care worker accused of child abuse; father of alleged victim posts images of 1-year-old son's mangled face

Juell told WCCO that Russell's "behavior and actions at the scene immediately raised suspicion, drawing investigative focus to her as the primary person of interest."

Authorities investigating Russell's background found "a documented history of attention-seeking behavior," including "nonsensical" 911 calls, fire-starting, and "erratic behavior toward other children," Juell added to the station.

Following a three-month investigation, Juell told KTSP-TV a clear pattern emerged: Russell was involved in all three incidents at the day care, had the last contacts with the children before the incidents occurred — and exhibited suspicious behavior in the immediate aftermath of each incident.

Russell in an interview with police confessed to "intentionally suffocating" Muklebust and the other child "in an attention-seeking act," Juell told WCCO, adding that she "confessed to the attempted murder of our first victim on two occasions and to the murder of Harvey Muklebust."

Russell had worked at the day care for only three weeks before the boy's death, Juell noted to the station.

WCCO said that after the infant's death, Rocking Horse Ranch owner Lisa Weiss told the station she had no comment.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services said it suspended Rocking Horse Ranch's license on Sept. 23 but that the suspension is under appeal.

Russell on Friday was listed on the inmate roster at Scott County Jail. She's also facing felony assault charges, jail records show.

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