The young woman at the center of the chilling 2014 Slender Man stabbing case has once again become the focus of intense scrutiny. Morgan Geyser, now 23, recently escaped from a Wisconsin group home and was apprehended in Illinois, triggering a legal battle over her proper care.
Currently held in Waukesha County Jail, Geyser’s attorney is urgently requesting a return to a mental health facility. The argument centers on the belief that a correctional institution is detrimental to her well-being, especially given her history and original legal finding.
Attorney Anthony Cotton emphasized that Geyser faces no new criminal charges in Waukesha County and was previously found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect related to the original, horrific crime. He contends that a therapeutic environment is far more appropriate than jail.
Geyser’s escape from the YoYo Quality Care group home on November 22nd went unnoticed for several hours. She was eventually located with 43-year-old Chad Mecca at an Illinois truck stop, bringing a swift end to the search.
A crucial hearing is scheduled for December 22nd, where Wisconsin Department of Health Services officials will determine whether to revoke Geyser’s conditional release. This decision will significantly impact her immediate future and long-term care.
The possibility of new felony charges stemming from her escape remains unclear. Authorities have indicated that tampering with her electronic tracking device – allegedly cut off during her departure – could lead to prosecution.
The case first gripped the nation in 2014 when Geyser and her friend, Anissa Weier, brutally attacked their classmate, Payton Leutner, in a local park. Leutner suffered nineteen stab wounds in a near-fatal assault.
The motive behind the attack was deeply disturbing: Geyser and Weier claimed they were attempting to appease the fictional internet horror character, Slender Man. They feared he would harm their families if they failed to carry out the act.
Both girls were ultimately found guilty by reason of mental defect or disease in 2017. Weier received a 25-year sentence of mental confinement, while Geyser was ordered to serve 40 years.
Geyser spent nearly eight years at the Winnebago Mental Health Institute before being granted conditional release and placed in the group home this past September. Her recent escape underscores the complexities of managing her mental health and ensuring public safety.
