Infant dies at child care facility, police investigating
By Esme Murphy, Jason Rantala
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SAVAGE, Minnesota (WCCO) — Police in Savage, Minnesota, are investigating after an infant died at a day care facility on Monday.
According to police, the child died at the Rocking Horse Ranch Childcare facility.
Families of children who attend the facility are asked to monitor their kids and seek medical care if they “exhibit altered mental status, unusual behavioral changes, or other concerning symptoms,” police said.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy and determine the cause and manner of death.
According to the Rocking Horse Ranch website, the facility is licensed to care for children 6 weeks old up through the fourth grade. They employ 22 teaching and support staff.
Neighbors told WCCO they saw a large police presence and an ambulance at the day care Monday morning.
A parent, who had her kids at the daycare up until recently, told WCCO that the news of the death is heartbreaking and shocking. She said she has had very positive experiences with the day care, which she said has an excellent reputation in the Prior Lake and Savage communities.
State inspection records found the day care had four violations. They were corrected in June, and six violations were found and corrected in March. The violations ranged from bathrooms not being clean to hazardous objects being accessible to children.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families said it temporarily suspended Rocking Horse Ranch’s license. The department said it was notified of two instances — one on Friday and one on Monday — of an infant exhibiting respiratory distress symptoms.
“While we cannot provide comment on open investigations, we extend our deepest sympathies to the child’s family and community,” said Randall Keys, the department’s inspector general. “The death of a child is heartbreaking, and the loss of this young life is especially tragic.”
A parent who had kids at Rocking Horse Ranch until recently told WCCO on Wednesday she had very positive experiences with the day care, which she said has an excellent reputation in the Prior Lake and Savage communities.
“I’ve never heard anything negative from families who attended,” she said. “The teachers are exceptionally caring and dedicated, which makes this news all the more heartbreaking and shocking.”
The parent said the last two days have been “confusing” amid swirling rumors.
“What is known at this point is that a baby experienced respiratory distress on Friday, and a 10-month-old tragically passed away on Monday after showing similar symptoms. I am heartbroken for the families,” she said.
State Rep. Nolan West of Blaine says it’s another example of why cameras should be required at day cares.
“If you had access to some sort of camera footage, or somebody did, it could be very quickly verified, what happened, and that’s better off for everyone,” West said.
West pulled his daughter out of a Blaine day care where two workers were charged with malicious punishment of a child and third-degree assault in July 2024. He said he received incident reports for bruising. West then proposed a bill to require cameras in all infant and toddler day care rooms. The legislature only passed a requirement for cameras with active maltreatment violations.
Savage police say they’re investigating the case alongside the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Andrew Dahmes at 952-882-2601.
Lisa Weiss, who owns Rocking Horse Ranch, said she had no comment regarding the incident.
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