Savage daycare worker arrested in infant death; Rocking Horse Ranch license suspended after prior safety citations
Savage police arrested a Rocking Horse Ranch Childcare employee in connection with the September death of an infant boy after investigators tied the worker to three medical incidents — including two earlier cases in which an infant girl vomited a “blood‑like” substance and became pale and lethargic — and the fatal episode. The search‑warrant affidavit says the employee re‑created events with a doll and has a history of 911 misdials and false reports; a preliminary autopsy found no visible injuries and no common poisons and the final cause of death is pending. State inspection records show the daycare had prior safety citations, and regulators have suspended Rocking Horse Ranch’s license citing an “imminent risk of harm.”
📌 Key Facts
- Savage police arrested a daycare employee in connection with the September death of an infant boy at Rocking Horse Ranch Childcare.
- Investigators say the probe centers on a specific employee linked to three medical incidents at the facility: two earlier incidents involving an infant girl who vomited a "blood-like" substance and became pale and lethargic, and the later fatal incident with the infant boy.
- A police search-warrant affidavit states the employee reenacted events for investigators using a doll and notes she has a history of 911 misdials and false reports.
- Preliminary autopsy results for the infant boy showed no physical injuries and no common poisons on toxicology; the final cause of death is pending.
- State officials suspended Rocking Horse Ranch Childcare’s license on grounds of an "imminent risk of harm," and police issued a precautionary advisory urging parents to closely monitor their children.
- State inspection and licensing records show the Savage daycare had been cited for safety violations prior to the infant's death; reporting details the facility's inspection history and the timing of cited violations relative to the September incident.
- The City of Savage scheduled a 1 p.m. press conference with the mayor, police chief, Scott County attorney and family representatives to outline charges and next steps.
📊 Relevant Data
As of December 2025, 82 out of 92 suspects indicted in the related Minnesota fraud cases, including those involving child care programs, were Somali American, despite Somalis comprising approximately 1.12% of the state's population.
2020s Minnesota fraud scandals — Wikipedia
Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the United States, with 64,354 Somalis as of 2026, representing 1.12% of the state's total population.
Somali Population by State 2026 — World Population Review
Deaths in licensed child care settings in Minnesota declined from 10 in 2011 to 4 in 2022, with only one death each in 2020 and 2021.
Minnesota child care deaths have declined, but opportunities to save children are still missed — Star Tribune
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Savage police have now made an arrest in connection with the September death of an infant boy at Rocking Horse Ranch Childcare.
- The investigation has focused on a specific employee linked to three medical incidents: two involving an infant girl who vomited a 'blood-like' substance and turned pale and lethargic, and the third being the fatal incident with the infant boy.
- The City of Savage scheduled a 1 p.m. press conference with the mayor, police chief, Scott County attorney and family representatives to outline charges and next steps.
- The FOX 9 report details the employee’s own account of each incident, including police having her recreate events with a doll, and highlights that state regulators suspended the license on grounds of 'imminent risk of harm.'
- A Savage Police search‑warrant affidavit focuses on a specific daycare employee tied to two prior medical incidents with an infant girl and to the infant boy who later died.
- In both prior incidents, the infant girl vomited with a "blood‑like" substance and showed distress; the same employee was the caregiver.
- The affidavit notes the employee re‑created events for investigators using a doll and has a history of 911 misdials and false reports.
- Preliminary autopsy findings for the infant boy show no physical injuries and no common poisons in toxicology; final cause of death pending.
- State officials have suspended Rocking Horse Ranch Childcare’s license, and police issued a precautionary advisory urging parents to closely monitor children.
- State inspection records show the Savage daycare had been cited for safety violations prior to the infant's death.
- The Star Tribune article relies on state inspection/licensing records as primary documentation (adds documentary sourcing beyond initial reporting).
- Article provides additional details about the facility's inspection history and the timing of cited violations relative to the September incident.