Slender Man Stabber Morgan Geyser: Doctors Backed Her Release, but Judge Ruled She Remained a Risk

A Wisconsin woman who nearly killed a classmate in a notorious 2014 stabbing case linked to the fictional internet horror character Slender Man faced a critical legal decision in April 2024, when medical experts disagreed over whether she was ready to leave a psychiatric hospital.

Morgan Geyser was 12 years old when she and her friend, Anissa Weier, lured their sixth-grade classmate Payton Leutner into a wooded area in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times, leaving her severely injured. Leutner survived the attack.

Nearly a decade later, Geyser, then 21, asked a judge to approve her conditional release from Winnebago Mental Health Institute, where she had been held under a court order since 2018.

Doctors Disagreed Over Whether She Was Ready to Leave

During a court hearing in April 2024, two psychiatrists supported Geyser’s request for conditional release. One was Dr. Kayla Pope, the medical director of the psychiatric facility, who testified that Geyser had participated in treatment and could return to the community under appropriate conditions.

Psychiatrist Dr. Kenneth Robbins also supported her release, suggesting that a structured group home could help her develop greater independence, social skills and educational opportunities.

However, psychologists who evaluated Geyser expressed serious reservations. They questioned the reliability of her accounts of her mental health history and raised concerns about whether she fully understood her condition and the warning signs that might indicate a deterioration.

Geyser had previously been diagnosed with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder. During treatment, she later claimed that she had fabricated some of the psychotic symptoms she had reported, a development that prompted further scrutiny from mental health professionals.

The Attack That Shocked the Country

The case attracted international attention because of the girls’ stated connection to Slender Man, a fictional character that became popular through internet horror stories and images.

Investigators said Geyser and Weier believed they needed to attack Leutner to appease the character and prevent harm from coming to their families.

Both girls were 12 at the time and were prosecuted as adults. Geyser pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide and was committed to a psychiatric institution. Weier pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree intentional homicide and was granted conditional release in 2021 under supervision.

Leutner survived despite suffering 19 stab wounds, making her recovery one of the most significant aspects of the case.

Judge Denies Geyser’s Release Request

Despite the psychiatrists who supported Geyser’s release, Waukesha County Judge Michael Bohren denied her petition on April 11, 2024.

The judge concluded that the evidence showed she still posed a significant risk to public safety. He cited concerns about her credibility, her mental-health history and the potential consequences of releasing her into the community.

The decision meant Geyser would remain at the psychiatric institution rather than transition to a less restrictive living arrangement.

The case illustrates the difficult decisions courts face when balancing a person’s progress in psychiatric treatment against concerns about public safety. Although some medical experts believed Geyser could continue her recovery outside the institution, the judge determined that the evidence did not justify her release at that time.

Source: nypost