Official statements from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services or news reports

Transgender Slender Man Stabber Morgan Geyser Granted Conditional Release with Ankle Monitor

Jan 9, 2025, 10:37 PM

Morgan Geyser, one of the two assailants in the 2014 Slender Man stabbing case, has been granted conditional release from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute by Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren. Geyser, now 22, was 12 years old when she and Anissa Weier lured their classmate, Payton Leutner, to a park and stabbed her 19 times to please the fictional character Slender Man. Leutner survived the attack. Geyser was found guilty of attempted first-degree intentional homicide but was not held criminally responsible due to mental illness and was sentenced to up to 40 years in a psychiatric institution in 2018. Judge Bohren ruled that Geyser has maximized her treatment options and no longer poses a public safety risk. The release is conditional, requiring the state Department of Health Services to establish a supervised housing plan within 60 days, with Geyser also required to wear an ankle monitor. Geyser, who now identifies as transgender and was recently diagnosed with autism, has shown significant progress, no longer exhibits psychotic symptoms, and has been off antipsychotic medication for years. Psychologist Brooke Lundbohm testified that Geyser's mental health has improved significantly since a 2021 suicide attempt. Geyser's co-assailant, Weier, was released in 2021 under similar conditions. However, the victim's family expressed concerns about the decision, emphasizing the need for community safety.