Wisconsin Judge OKs release plan for Morgan Geyser, who stabbed a classmate to please Slender Man

Morgan Geyser, the Wisconsin woman who infamously nearly stabbed a classmate to death in an attempt to please the fictional horror character Slender Man, is set to be released from a mental hospital after more than a decade. The decision was made by Waukesha County Circuit Judge Scott Wagner, who approved a conditional plan for Geyser’s release from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute, where she has been receiving treatment for the past seven years.

The release plan was initially met with objections from prosecutors in April, who raised concerns about Geyser’s proximity to the victim’s mother. However, a new plan was drafted by the Department of Health Services and approved by the judge on Thursday. The specifics of the plan and the timing of Geyser’s release were not disclosed in court.

Geyser, along with her friend Anissa Weier, lured their classmate Payton Leutner to a park in Waukesha in 2014 after a sleepover. Geyser then proceeded to stab Leutner 19 times while Weier encouraged her. The brutal attack was carried out in a misguided attempt to become Slender Man’s servants, as the girls believed he would harm their families if they did not follow through.

Following the attack, Geyser and Weier were apprehended as they were walking on Interstate 94. Geyser pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide in 2017, citing mental illness as a defense. She was committed to a psychiatric hospital for 40 years by Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren.

Despite concerns raised by state health officials about Geyser’s trustworthiness, including her undisclosed reading material and communication with a murder memorabilia collector, Judge Bohren ordered the development of a release plan. Judge Wagner has since taken over the case following Bohren’s retirement.

Weier, who also pleaded guilty to her role in the attack, was committed to a mental hospital for 25 years but was granted release in 2021 under certain conditions. The case gained widespread attention due to the girls’ fascination with the Slender Man character, an online creation that has since become a popular figure in horror culture.

The release of Morgan Geyser marks a significant development in a tragic and disturbing case that has captivated the public’s attention for years. As she prepares to re-enter society, the hope is that she has received the necessary treatment and support to ensure the safety of herself and those around her.