[0:37] Somebody want to come? [0:48] Good afternoon. I'm Emily Gunderson, [0:50] communications director here at the city [0:52] of Savage. Thank you all for being here [0:54] today. We are here to provide an update [0:56] on the death investigation at Rocking [0:58] Horse Ranch. This has been a really [1:00] difficult time for our community and we [1:02] appreciate your patience as this [1:04] investigation has unfolded. We have [1:07] several people who will be speaking with [1:08] you today. First, you'll hear from our [1:11] mayor Christine Kelly, followed by [1:13] police chief Brady Juel and Scott County [1:16] Attorney Ron Hosver. Members of the [1:19] Mucklebust family are also here to share [1:21] a few words. After the prepared [1:24] statements, Chief Juul and County [1:26] Attorney Hosver will be available to [1:28] answer questions. Please note that the [1:30] family will not be taking questions at [1:32] this time. Now, I'd like to turn it over [1:35] to Mayor Kelly. [1:41] Thank you, Emily. [1:43] Today marks a significant step forward [1:46] in a case that has weighed heavily [1:49] on our community for the last four [1:50] months. [1:52] While nothing can undo what has [1:55] happened, this arrest brings us closer [1:58] to answers and accountability. [2:01] I want to thank Chief Juul and our [2:04] entire Savage Police Force for their [2:06] tireless work on this investigation. [2:09] Our thanks also go out to the Scott [2:11] County Attorney's Office and our law [2:13] enforcement partners for their tireless [2:16] efforts in making this happen. [2:19] This kind of work takes patience, [2:22] expertise, [2:23] and dedication. [2:25] And we're grateful for everyone who [2:28] stayed committed to finding the truth. [2:32] Most importantly, however, we recognize [2:35] the family who has endured an [2:38] unimaginable loss and has waited for [2:41] this day. Our community has held you in [2:45] our thoughts throughout this difficult [2:47] time. [2:48] We hope today's announcement brings you [2:51] some measure of closure. [2:54] Thank you. And I will turn it over to [2:56] Chief Tua. [2:59] >> Thank you, Mayor. [3:04] >> Thank you, Mayor Kelly. Thank you all [3:06] for being here today during this [3:08] incredibly difficult time for our [3:10] community. I am Chief Brady Juwel of the [3:14] Savage Police Department. I'm joined by [3:16] County Attorney Ron Hosvar of the Scott [3:19] County Attorney's Office, [3:21] members of the Monkbus family, police [3:24] staff, and detectives as well of our [3:27] investigations unit. Here at the podium, [3:30] we stand united in grief, resolve, and [3:33] commitment to justice. Today, we come [3:36] before you with heavy hearts to announce [3:39] that an arrest has been made in the [3:41] tragic death of 11-month-old Harvey [3:43] Monklust at the Rocking Horse Daycare. [3:47] The individual arrested is Thea Ludmia [3:50] Russell, born February 3rd, 2007, an [3:54] 18-year-old employee of the daycare [3:56] center. She is currently being held in a [3:59] Scott County jail facing charges of [4:02] seconddegree murder and additional [4:05] related charges. [4:07] This arrest follows an intensive more [4:10] than threemonth investigation alled by [4:13] Savage led by Savage Police Department's [4:15] investigation team who are here today. [4:18] They were directed by Sergeant Andrew [4:22] Dames. We are fortunate to have [4:25] exceptional partnerships and support [4:26] from numerous agencies whose expertise [4:30] was absolutely instrumental. The [4:33] Minnesota Bureau of Criminal [4:34] Apprehension for Crime Scene Processing, [4:37] Homicide Detectives, and Laboratory [4:40] Analysis. The Henipin County Medical [4:42] Examiner's Office. FBI's behavioral [4:46] analysis unit played a huge part. Scott [4:49] County Attorney's Office played a huge [4:52] part and role in this arrest. The [4:54] Department of Children, Youth, and [4:56] Family Services. The Shockby Police [4:59] Department, Prior Lake Police [5:01] Department, Scott County Sheriff's [5:03] Office, and Carver County Sheriff's [5:05] Office. We thank them all for their [5:07] part. Through this collaborative effort, [5:10] we develop probable cause to believe the [5:13] following tragic sequence of events. [5:17] On Friday, September 19th, in the [5:19] afternoon, Savage Police Department [5:21] responded to the Rocking Horse Ranch [5:23] Daycare after reports of a [5:25] four-month-old child who was briefly not [5:27] breathing and was found with blood and [5:29] foam under her nose and mouth. By the [5:32] time officers arrived, the child was [5:34] breathing again and was being [5:36] transported to the hospital by the [5:39] parents. [5:40] At that time, this appeared to be a [5:42] medical episode with no immediate [5:44] foulplay concerns raised. [5:47] The child was later evaluated, released, [5:50] and over the weekend was reported to be [5:52] acting normally with no further issues [5:55] observed whatsoever. [5:57] On that following Monday, September [6:00] 22nd, 2025, at approximately 8:30 p.m., [6:04] that same child returned to the daycare [6:07] healthy and well. A short time later, [6:11] she was again found unresponsive, not [6:13] breathing, with blood around her nose [6:15] and mouth. The child's parents were [6:17] notified, returned to the center, and [6:19] transported her to the hospital. Our [6:23] department was not dispatched for that [6:25] second incident. [6:28] Tragically, just two hours later, at [6:32] about 10:00 a.m. that same morning, Thea [6:35] Russell called 911 to report an [6:37] 11-month-old child, Harvey Mucklebust, [6:40] was not breathing. [6:43] Police, fire, and EMS responded [6:45] immediately [6:47] and initiated life-saving efforts. [6:50] Harvey Mucklebus was transported to the [6:52] hospital where he, despite all those [6:54] life-saving efforts, was pronounced [6:57] deceased at approximately 11:34 [7:00] a.m. [7:03] The daycare was immediately closed after [7:05] this incident. All children were safely [7:07] released to their parents and the scene [7:09] was thoroughly processed forensically [7:12] with the assistance of the Bureau of [7:14] Criminal Apprehension. [7:16] Over the following three months, [7:17] investigators conducted dozens of [7:19] interviews with daycare staff, parents [7:22] of children who attended, and various [7:25] contractors associated with the [7:26] facility. A clear pattern emerged. [7:31] Thea Russell was a common denominator in [7:34] each of these incidents. She had last [7:36] contact with each of the affected [7:38] children immediately prior to these [7:41] events. Notably, she had only been [7:43] employed with the daycare for 3 weeks at [7:46] that time. Her behavior and actions at [7:49] the scene immediately raised suspicion, [7:51] drawing investigative focus to her as [7:55] the primary person of interest. [7:58] Investigators conducted an ex exhaustive [8:01] review of Thea's background, including [8:03] in-depth interviews with family members, [8:05] friends, previous employers, and other [8:08] personal contacts. [8:11] This revealed a documented history of [8:14] attentionseeking behavior, including her [8:17] making multiple 911 calls, reporting [8:19] nonsensical incidents, and simply [8:22] hanging up. Also learned were past [8:25] incidents involving starting fires at a [8:27] church camp, and erratic behavior toward [8:30] other children. [8:32] Based on the totality of the evidence in [8:34] this three months investigation, we had [8:37] probable cause to believe Thea Russell [8:39] intentionally suffocated these children [8:41] on three occasions to seek attention [8:45] and that that third incident tragically [8:48] resulted in the death of Harvey [8:50] Mucklebust. [8:53] During questioning, Thea confessed to [8:56] intentionally suffocating the two [8:58] children in an attentionseeking act. [9:03] At approximately, yes, excuse me, [9:05] yesterday at approximately 9:15 a.m., [9:08] Thea Russell was arrested, leaving her [9:11] home. She was transported to Savage [9:13] Police Department for questioning. [9:16] During the questioning, Thea confessed [9:18] to intentionally suffocating the two [9:20] children in an attentionseeking act. She [9:24] provided provided detailed descriptions [9:26] of how she carried out the attempts [9:29] against the life of the first victim on [9:31] two separate occasions and she confessed [9:34] to the murder of Harvey Mucklebust. [9:37] For the sake of both of the victims and [9:39] their families, I'm withholding the [9:42] specific details she admitted. [9:45] There will be outlined in the pending [9:47] formal complaint. [9:50] I want to be perfectly clear, however. [9:53] Thea Russell has confessed to the [9:55] attempted murder of our first victim on [9:58] two occasions and to the murder of [10:00] Harvey Mucklebust. [10:02] This is a heartbreaking case that has [10:05] shaken our entire community. No words [10:09] can fully express the profound sorrow we [10:11] feel for the Mucklebus family and all of [10:14] those affected by this crime. Our [10:17] thoughts remain with Harvey's loved ones [10:19] and we are committed to supporting them [10:21] through every step that will undoubtedly [10:24] be a long and difficult journey. [10:28] With that, I will now turn the podium [10:30] over to Scott County Attorney Ron [10:31] Hosavvar for comments regarding the [10:34] prosecution moving forward. [10:40] >> Thank you, Chief. Good afternoon. [10:42] First off, my condolences to both [10:44] families whose children were harmed by [10:47] this individual with one ultimately um [10:50] pass unfortunately passing away. [10:54] Obviously, a terrible situation where [10:57] These children were placed in an [10:58] environment where their safety and [11:01] security [11:03] is supposed to be taken care of. And [11:04] this individual violated that in the [11:06] most egregious way. [11:10] My compliments to the investigation in [11:11] this case, the Sage Police Department, [11:13] BCA, the FBI, and all the other agencies [11:16] that you heard Chief Brady talk about. [11:18] It was an extensive exhaustive [11:21] investigation [11:22] which [11:24] the truth came out and it's due to their [11:26] efforts that were able to go ahead and [11:28] prosecute this case. [11:31] My office is currently working on the [11:33] complaint, working on the charges. We [11:36] anticipate that we'll have the have [11:38] charges filed by tomorrow. Close of [11:41] business with a bail hearing most likely [11:43] happening Friday morning. [11:47] I will be available, myself and the [11:49] chief will be available for some [11:50] questions afterwards. Um, but at this [11:53] point and as Chief Brady indicated that [11:56] the family does not want to take [11:57] questions, but Julie, I believe Harvey's [12:00] grandmother would like to say something. [12:15] My name is Julie Mucklebust, Harvey's [12:18] Anana. [12:20] I am providing this statement [12:23] on behalf of Harvey's dad and mom, [12:26] Hunter and Catherine, his brother, and [12:29] our entire family. [12:33] First, we'd like to express our [12:34] gratitude to the Savage Police [12:36] Department and specifically Detective [12:39] Andrew Dames and his investigative team [12:43] for their tire tireless efforts to seek [12:46] the truth in Harvey's death. [12:49] We appreciate the time, care, and [12:52] compassion you have given our family. [12:55] We would also like to say thank the [12:57] Scott County Attorney's Office, the [12:59] Henipin County Medical Examiner, the [13:02] Minnesota BCA, [13:04] FBI, and all the other agencies that [13:08] assisted to providing a thorough [13:11] investigation. [13:15] From the moment Harvey was born, he [13:16] filled our world with sunshine. [13:20] His passion for playing, [13:23] infectious laugh, loving heart put a [13:27] smile on everybody's face. [13:30] Just five days shy of his first [13:33] birthday, he was on the move, crawling, [13:37] climbing up the SL stairs and sliding [13:39] back down and learning to say mama and [13:42] dada. [13:46] He loved the time playing with his big [13:48] brother who misses him deeply. [13:51] He was affectionately known [13:54] as our little Harve monster. [13:58] Harvey was such a blessing to our family [14:00] and his death has left a tremendous hole [14:03] in our hearts. [14:07] Harvey's fingerprints are on my sliding [14:09] glass door [14:11] and his drool drool stains still show on [14:15] his crib sheets. [14:20] Those are the little things that I'm not [14:23] ready to wash away. [14:30] We miss him more than anything in this [14:32] world. [14:34] But we try to remember with each ray of [14:36] sunshine, [14:38] each gentle breeze, [14:40] and each star in the sky that he's [14:43] always with us, shining down, [14:46] Harvey, every day we ask ourselves why [14:50] it had to be you. [14:53] Every day we live with the pain of what [14:55] happened to you. [14:58] But we promise that every day we will [15:01] say your name. [15:04] Every day we will continue to fight for [15:05] you. [15:07] And in the end we will make sure that [15:10] justice has been served. [15:12] Harvey, we love and miss you. [15:17] Thank you. [15:22] Again, [15:27] currently the family does not want to [15:29] answer any questions from the media or [15:31] for the public. So, out of respect, [15:34] they're going to now leave the press [15:36] conference. [15:38] Uh, Scott, County Attorney Mike Hosphar, [15:42] myself and the mayor will be here for [15:44] any questioning. If you guys have [15:46] questions, [15:49] we'll make the time for it now. I just [15:51] want to say again um offscript [15:55] that this murder and attempted murder of [15:59] another child deeply affected our [16:03] community like nothing we have seen in [16:06] the past. [16:08] Our pursuit of this justice in this case [16:12] took a long time and we understand [16:13] that's frustrating for people but we [16:16] were not stopping until we got to the [16:18] bottom of it. This case was extremely [16:22] difficult with thousands of hours [16:24] between all the adjoining partners [16:27] putting into this and interviewing [16:29] people. This has taken a a mental toll [16:32] on our unit anytime the senseless loss [16:36] of life of such a incredible young boy. [16:41] Um and we meaning myself and the Scott [16:45] County Attorney's Office, we this case [16:47] isn't done. Our investigation continues [16:50] and we will do everything we can for a [16:53] successful prosecution in this case. [16:56] This person should never ever again be [17:01] free to harm another child. [17:04] With that being open, um we're open to [17:07] questions. [17:09] >> Karen, [17:12] will face any charges? Is there [17:15] investigation into the childare [17:16] facility? [17:19] The question was, is Rocking Horse [17:22] facing any investigation for criminal [17:24] liability? The answer is no. Uh, at this [17:27] time, we do not have a case against the [17:30] owner or anybody there. The case, I [17:33] believe, is still with family services [17:35] who uh holds the responsibility of [17:38] investigating daycarees and the cases [17:41] with them. But at this time we have not [17:44] any investigation into the owners or the [17:47] daycare. [17:50] Chief, I know your team has been working [17:52] really hard on this for days, months. If [17:56] you could talk about how many times you [17:58] talked to her before [18:02] yesterday, [18:06] what that moment was like. Were you in [18:08] the room with them? [18:10] So, the question is, how many times did [18:12] we interview Thea? Uh, I can say that [18:15] I've never interviewed her. I've never [18:18] met her. Um, but our investigations unit [18:21] did speak with her several times during [18:24] the course of the investigation. I'm not [18:26] able to give an exact number. Um, but it [18:30] was multiple times. [18:33] That moment though when your detectives [18:35] came out [18:38] that [18:43] this case has emotionally taken an [18:46] emotional toll and after her arrest I'm [18:50] not sure what changed but when we had [18:54] the confession um I can't tell you [18:57] inside on a case where someone's denying [18:59] something and then confesses admits to [19:02] what they did. Um there's extreme [19:05] elation. Uh mostly we felt that we are [19:09] going to be able to tell the family what [19:11] happened because they didn't know. And [19:14] that's an incredible feeling. Um I don't [19:16] want to say of joy during such a tragic [19:20] incident. Relief and a sense of [19:23] accomplishment uh came over our entire [19:25] investigative unit once we had that [19:28] confession. [19:30] >> Did Miss Russell join course. [19:36] >> I'm not going to speak to that. Um I I [19:40] think that'll come out in the course of [19:41] the trial whether she felt remorse or [19:44] not. Um I don't want to speak to how she [19:47] felt. Um I can tell you that our [19:50] investigators [19:52] um were just amazed every time they [19:55] talked to her. And uh just again, as I [20:00] said in my statement, she was a a person [20:02] of interest from the very beginning due [20:04] to the way she acted. And I won't go [20:06] into any more details because you'll see [20:08] some of those in the formal complaint [20:10] >> through your investigation with um all [20:12] the other agencies and such. Was there [20:15] any indication of a history of mental [20:17] illness? [20:20] >> I cannot speak to that either. I'm [20:22] sorry. The question was, was there a [20:23] history of mental illness that we saw? [20:27] Um, and I can't I cannot answer that [20:29] question. Go ahead. [20:30] >> She had any other previous employment [20:32] where she was around children? [20:35] >> The question was, did Thea Russell have [20:37] any previous employment where she was [20:39] around other children? Yes. And I will [20:42] tell you that will be in the formal [20:44] complaint and that will be a factor in [20:48] our uh in our prosecution. [20:50] >> Are there any other [20:53] out there with other agencies or [20:55] employers being investigated. [20:58] >> During the course of our investigation, [20:59] we came across no other invest active [21:03] investigations or uh any type of [21:07] procedures that were being affected [21:09] against her. [21:11] >> Can you speak to the status of Rocking [21:13] Horse right now? Their ability to reopen [21:16] that sort of thing. [21:17] >> The question is what's the status of [21:19] Rocking Horse's ranches? Excuse me. [21:21] Rocking Horse Ranch's daycare's license, [21:23] they are currently closed and I do not [21:26] know the today's status of the daycare, [21:29] but um as far as my knowledge, they have [21:32] not been allowed to reopen. [21:34] >> What has been rocking's response to all [21:36] of this? I know that they have actually [21:39] suspension. [21:43] >> The question was what's the response? [21:45] Um, I would say within several weeks of [21:48] the start of the investigation, they [21:49] discontinued contact with our police [21:51] department and we were referred to their [21:54] attorney um for any questioning or any [21:57] needs that we had. Um, but after those [22:00] first several weeks um the relationship [22:03] just became a lawyer investigator type [22:06] relationship. [22:10] My [22:13] led to the arrest, what led to yesterday [22:16] being the day is that when everything [22:18] was bought up when you felt [22:20] ready to go forward before that? [22:25] >> A summary of the question is uh what led [22:28] to the arrest yesterday and why [22:30] yesterday? Um there's no one answer. Uh [22:35] I will refer to the county attorney's [22:37] formal complaint. you're going to see. [22:39] But we felt that after three months of [22:43] an exhaustive search, we had had enough [22:47] and we had enough to formulate that [22:49] probable cause for the arrest. There is [22:51] no one thing. Um it was a culmination of [22:54] timing in this investigation. Uh [22:59] evidence coming back um from sources [23:02] that take six, eight weeks. um [23:05] strategizing [23:06] personnel, the availability of the [23:09] county attorney and their office to be [23:11] present. And um uh during the [23:14] investigation and it just we had set the [23:17] plan, this was the day we felt we had [23:19] enough. And I will say in my 31 years of [23:23] law enforcement, this was the best [23:26] executed arrest, questioning, and [23:29] takeown of a murder I have ever seen. [23:33] I'm extremely proud of my department's [23:36] investigative unit, my staff, and the [23:39] relationship we have with the county [23:41] attorney. I cannot say enough how much [23:44] our partners in law enforcement helped [23:47] in the FBI behavioral analysis unit, the [23:50] FBI's regional office, and the BCA [23:53] homicide investigators. They all were [23:55] crucial partners in this investigation. [23:58] I will not stand up here and say it was [23:59] our department alone. I will say the [24:01] efforts of Sergeant Andrew Dames and his [24:04] team, I've never seen anything to match [24:08] that. It was incredible. [24:11] >> One more question. Um, you had said with [24:14] the second incident of a fourmonth-old [24:16] that police were not police, did walking [24:20] force or anyone call 911? The question [24:24] is the first victim, the second call, um [24:30] because of the proximity to where the [24:32] child was dropped off and the incident, [24:35] we believe that they felt at that time [24:38] it was a medical thing and they handled [24:40] it by calling the parent who came back [24:43] very quickly, grabbed the child and then [24:46] took it for further medical examination. [24:49] We believe that's the reason why we were [24:51] not called. Um, we felt that they [24:54] probably followed their procedure, but [24:57] um, we're not sure why we weren't [24:59] called, but we were not. [25:03] >> Did Rocking Horse have any surveillance [25:06] inside their facilities or outside their [25:08] facilities? That was a part of the [25:09] investigation. [25:10] >> Question is, did Rocking Horse at the [25:13] time of this incident have any [25:14] surveillance cameras inside? No, they [25:17] did not. [25:20] This area uh was not under surveillance. [25:27] >> You mentioned a little bit working on a [25:29] complaint. She's held on second degree [25:30] murder. Now you talk about the charges [25:33] you're working. [25:36] >> Well, we're looking at we're looking at [25:38] secondderee unintentional right now for [25:41] Harvey. We're looking at um several [25:44] counts of firstdegree assault on the [25:46] other child. And again, as we indicated [25:49] earlier, this this is still an ongoing [25:50] investigation. [25:52] There's still things that need to be [25:53] tied up um and looked at is obviously [25:56] this went on for months. It's extensive. [25:58] We're still getting paperwork uh to my [26:00] office, have it gone through by the [26:02] prosecutors [26:03] and come up with the appropriate [26:04] charges. Um so, as you know, by covering [26:08] criminal law for quite a while, it's uh [26:12] it's very fluid. Uh depending on the [26:15] information we get, those charges may [26:17] change at any time, but right now we're [26:20] looking at seconddegree unintentional [26:22] for Harvey and several counsel [26:23] firstdegree assault on the other child. [26:26] >> Would you rule out attempted murder? [26:31] >> Nothing's ruled out yet. Um I'm just [26:33] going on based on the information that I [26:34] have right now. Um, like I said, we'll [26:36] review the complete investigation once [26:39] it gets into the into the office and uh [26:42] we can always regardless of what's we [26:44] file tomorrow. [26:46] Um, we can all those charges can always [26:48] be amended. So, but that's what we're [26:51] looking at right now. [26:56] Any other questions [26:58] for anybody up here? [27:04] Okay. Thank you. [27:10] >> I'll end this press conference by saying [27:13] I appreciate all of you very much for [27:15] coming and uh showing attention to this [27:18] case. This case has weighed on our [27:21] community. You could hear that in the [27:23] emotion of our mayor. Um there are [27:26] dozens of families that overnight lost [27:28] their child care and the ripple effects [27:32] of that are not lost on us. This [27:35] investigation was daunting. Over three [27:37] months, hundred hundreds of pages of [27:40] documents, tons of evidence, tons of [27:44] reports, hundreds of hours of body [27:47] camera footage, video surveillance, [27:50] analysis went in to all these agencies. [27:53] So the culmination of this is the arrest [27:55] of Thea Russell for the murder of uh [27:58] Harvey Monklust and we'll continue to [28:01] pursue and to make sure she's prosecuted [28:03] to the fullest extent of the law and [28:05] anything we can do at our office we [28:07] will. Thank you very much. Appreciate [28:09] your time.