The whereabouts of Morgan Geyser, the young woman infamous for her involvement in a 2014 stabbing case linked to the fictional character Slender Man, remain unknown as of Sunday. Authorities reported that Geyser allegedly cut off her Department of Corrections monitoring bracelet and left a group home in Wisconsin, where she had been residing. This alarming turn of events has prompted local law enforcement to take action.
According to the Madison, Wisconsin police department, they were alerted to the disappearance of the 22-year-old Geyser on Sunday morning. In March, Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Michael Bohren had ordered her release from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute, sending her to a group home after three psychologists testified about her readiness for supervised release. A critical component of her release was the requirement to wear a monitoring bracelet.
However, Geyser cut off the monitoring device and left the group home sometime Saturday night. Police confirmed that she was last seen in Madison around 8 p.m. on Saturday with an adult acquaintance. The police department has since posted a recent surveillance image of Geyser on social media, urging the public to assist in locating her.
Geyser's attorney, Tony Cotton, issued a statement over the weekend urging her to turn herself in, emphasizing that doing so would be in her best interest. The police have encouraged anyone who sees Geyser to call 911 immediately, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
In 2014, Morgan Geyser and her accomplice, Anissa Weier, were charged as adults for stabbing their classmate, Payton Leutner, 19 times when they were just 12 years old. Both girls initially pleaded guilty but later had their pleas vacated when they were found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. This led to their commitment to psychiatric institutions rather than traditional incarceration.
Payton Leutner survived the brutal attack, which garnered international media attention. The incident was described as an attempt to please Slender Man, a faceless fictional character that had become a cultural phenomenon on the internet. Leutner's survival story was one of resilience, as she managed to pull herself to safety after the attack and was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
As of now, Geyser's family and the Leutner family are aware of the ongoing situation. A spokesperson for the Leutner family stated that Payton and her family are safe and are collaborating closely with local law enforcement to ensure their continued safety. They expressed gratitude to all law enforcement agencies involved in the efforts to apprehend Geyser and thanked the community for their support during this challenging time.
In January, Judge Bohren had mandated that the state Department of Health Services develop a plan for Geyser's supervised release. Despite some concerns raised by prosecutors about her communication with outside individuals and the reading of troubling material, she was transferred to a group home in March.
After the 2014 incident, Geyser pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted intentional homicide and was initially sent to the Winnebago Mental Health Institute. In 2018, her plea was overturned due to the mental disease ruling, resulting in a sentence of up to 40 years in a psychiatric institution. Anissa Weier, who pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, was sentenced to up to 25 years in a psychiatric institution and was granted supervised release in 2021.
In a previous interview with ABC's 20/20, Payton Leutner shared her journey of healing and her commitment to reclaiming her narrative after the traumatic event. She expressed her acceptance of her scars, stating, "I've come to accept all of the scars that I have. It's just a part of me." This sentiment underscores the resilience of survivors in the face of unimaginable circumstances.
The current situation surrounding Morgan Geyser highlights the complexities involved in mental health, rehabilitation, and public safety. As authorities continue their search, the community remains vigilant and supportive in ensuring the safety of all involved.