Inside Morgan Geyser's Chilling History: The Teen Who Stabbed a Classmate Over Slender Man

In May 2014, the quiet suburb of Waukesha, Wisconsin, became the centre of a horrifying case that blurred the line between internet myth and real-world violence.

Morgan Geyser, aged just 12, and her friend Anissa Weier lured their classmate Payton Leutner into the woods and stabbed her 19 times.

Their motive stunned investigators: they believed the attack was necessary to win favour with Slender Man, a fictional figure born from online creepypasta forums. Leutner survived against all odds after dragging herself to a road, where a passing cyclist found her.

The case quickly attracted global attention, raising questions about adolescent vulnerability, digital folklore and the intersection of delusion and violence.

Internet Horror Meets Real-World Violence

Geyser and Weier told police they believed Slender Man would harm their families if they disobeyed him.

Investigators later discovered notebooks, messages and online searches that fed their obsession with the fictional entity. The stabbing became one of the most disturbing examples of a digital hoax influencing impressionable young minds.

Psychologists and criminologists pointed to the case as a warning about the psychological impact of online horror culture, especially on children struggling with identity, loneliness or untreated mental illness.

Trial, Diagnosis And Long-Term Mental Health Commitment

Charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide, Geyser was tried in adult court because of the severity of the crime.

In 2018, she pleaded guilty but was found not criminally responsible due to mental illness. She was diagnosed with schizophrenia and committed to the Winnebago Mental Health Institute for up to 40 years.

Weier received a 25-year commitment after pleading guilty to attempted second-degree homicide. The court acknowledged their fragile mental states, the depth of delusion and the influence of internet mythology in shaping the attack.

Conditional Release and Supervised Care

After years of treatment, Geyser petitioned for conditional release. In 2023, a judge granted her request, allowing her to live in a supervised group home under strict monitoring. She was fitted with an electronic bracelet and subjected to regular psychiatric evaluations. Authorities emphasised that her release was contingent on compliance with treatment and close supervision.

This decision sparked debate among the public, with many questioning whether someone who had committed such a violent act at a young age could ever be safely reintegrated into society. For Leutner and her family, the release reopened old wounds, though officials reassured them that safeguards were in place.

Recent Escape and Arrest

In November 2025, Geyser once again made headlines. She allegedly cut off her monitoring bracelet and fled her group home in Madison, Wisconsin. A multi-state manhunt ensued, ending when police found her at a truck stop in Posen, Illinois, alongside a 42-year-old man she was reportedly in a relationship with.

Authorities confirmed she had travelled by bus and was apprehended without incident. Her disappearance reignited concerns about the adequacy of monitoring systems and the risks posed by conditional release in cases involving severe mental illness and violent crime.

The Dark And Lasting Shadow of Slender Man

More than a decade later, the Slender Man case remains one of the most infamous examples of fiction inspiring real-world violence. It continues to be studied in academic and legal circles, exploring youth psychology, online radicalisation and the limits of rehabilitation.

For Leutner, who survived the attack and later spoke publicly about her recovery, the trauma endures.

For communities, the case is a stark reminder of how untreated mental illness and digital folklore can produce a deadly combination.

Morgan Geyser's chilling history is not merely the tale of a violent act committed by a child; it is a complex narrative of delusion, mental illness, and the haunting influence of internet-born myths. Her recent escape underscores the ongoing challenges of balancing rehabilitation with public safety.

As authorities and communities grapple with the aftermath, the Slender Man case continues to serve as a grim reminder of how fiction can sometimes inspire real-world horror.