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