Overview
- Police identified the suspect as Theah Loudemia Russell, 18, who is jailed and expected to face a second-degree murder count in the death of 11-month-old Harvey Muklebust, with additional charges tied to another infant expected as early as Thursday and a bail hearing set for Friday.
- Investigators say Russell admitted to intentionally suffocating children and was the common link in three incidents at Rocking Horse Ranch on Sept. 19 and Sept. 22, 2025.
- Harvey was found unresponsive at the Savage facility on Sept. 22 and was pronounced dead at 11:34 a.m. after being taken to a hospital.
- A preliminary autopsy and toxicology showed no obvious external injuries or common poisons, leading investigators to rely on interviews, incident patterns and the suspect’s statements.
- Rocking Horse Ranch remains closed with its state license suspended since Sept. 23 under appeal, and police say the center itself is not a criminal target; Russell had worked there about three weeks and, according to police, had a documented history of attention-seeking behavior including nuisance 911 calls and fire starting.