A chilling escape unfolded as Morgan Geyser, convicted in the infamous Slender Man stabbing case, vanished from a lower-security group home. She brazenly severed her electronic monitoring tag, triggering a frantic search that stretched across state lines.
Geyser’s conviction stemmed from a horrific 2014 attack on her classmate, Payton Leutner. Driven by a terrifying delusion, she and a friend brutally stabbed Leutner nineteen times in a misguided attempt to appease the fictional internet horror character, Slender Man.
The pair lured Leutner to a wooded park under the guise of a game of hide-and-seek. While Leutner lay concealed amongst the leaves, Geyser unleashed a savage attack with a kitchen knife, inflicting wounds that narrowly missed vital organs. Leutner endured six hours of emergency surgery, fighting for her life.
Authorities located Geyser and an unidentified male companion at an Illinois truck stop, discovered sleeping on the sidewalk. Initially, Geyser refused to cooperate, offering a false name and cryptically admitting to having “done something really bad.”
When pressed for identification, Geyser’s response was unsettlingly nonchalant: “Just Google me.” This led officers to uncover her true identity and place both individuals into custody. Police lauded their officers’ professionalism in resolving the situation safely.
Geyser had previously been committed to a mental hospital for forty years, but a judge recently authorized her transfer to the group home in January. Her history of delusions and fragile mental state were central to the court’s understanding of her role in the attack.
During her sentencing, Geyser offered a tearful apology to Payton Leutner and her family, expressing hope for Leutner’s well-being. The Leutner family, upon learning of Geyser’s escape, confirmed their safety and continued collaboration with law enforcement.
Geyser’s former accomplice, Anissa Weier, received a sentence of up to 25 years in a mental institution. Geyser now faces additional escape charges in Wisconsin and awaits extradition from Cook County Jail, where she will appear before a judge.
The case continues to resonate, a stark reminder of the dark corners of the internet and the devastating consequences of unchecked delusion. Payton Leutner’s survival stands as a testament to her resilience in the face of unimaginable violence.
