Photo: DAMIEN MEYER- / AFP / Getty Images
Morgan Geyser, one of the two girls involved in the infamous 2014 Slender Man stabbing case, is seeking conditional release from a Wisconsin mental health facility. Geyser, now 24, was just 12 years old when she and her friend, Anissa Weier, lured their classmate, Payton Leutner, into the woods and stabbed her 19 times. Leutner survived the attack, and both girls were found not guilty by reason of mental defect, leading to their commitment to mental health institutions.
Geyser's current request marks her fifth attempt at conditional release. Her previous release in 2025 ended when she fled a group home in Madison, Wisconsin, and was subsequently arrested in Illinois. Geyser's defense attorney, Anthony Cotton, emphasizes that her escape was non-violent, stating, "Leaving a group home was a bad idea. But she didn’t do something violent."
A Waukesha County court hearing took place on Thursday (September 3), where Geyser appeared via Zoom. The court will consider new evaluations from the same three doctors who have assessed her in the past. These evaluations will be completed before Geyser's next hearing in November. Prosecutor Abbey Nickolie expressed concerns about Geyser's decision-making process, particularly her violation of rules during her last release.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the girls' fascination with the fictional character Slender Man. Geyser and Weier believed they needed to commit the crime to appease the character. Weier was granted conditional release in 2021.
Geyser's future now hinges on the upcoming evaluations and the court's decision. Her attorney remains hopeful, citing a recent Supreme Court ruling that limits institutional confinement to those who pose a danger to others.