Morgan Geyser Slender Man
Morgan Geyser, pictured here at age 12, was one of two girls convicted in the infamous ‘Slender Man’ stabbing. Now 23, she has gone missing in Wisconsin after cutting off her monitoring bracelet, last seen on Madison’s west side with an adult acquaintance. Madison Police Department

Morgan Geyser, convicted in the 2014 'Slender Man' stabbing case, is the subject of a police search after removing her GPS monitoring device and absconding from a residential facility in Wisconsin. Police confirmed she was last seen on Saturday evening, raising immediate concerns regarding the supervision of high-profile offenders transitioning from institutional psychiatric care.

The disappearance has reignited a debate regarding the efficacy of the juvenile justice system's rehabilitation protocols and the mechanisms used to monitor individuals released from long-term institutionalisation.

A Crime That Shocked the Internet Age

Geyser and her co-defendant, Anissa Weier, were convicted for the near-fatal attack on a classmate in Waukesha, Wisconsin, in 2014. The pair, both 12 at the time, lured the victim into a park and stabbed her 19 times in an attempt to appease 'Slender Man', a fictional internet character that had gained prominence in online horror forums.

The victim survived against extraordinary odds, crawling to safety before being discovered by a passing cyclist. The case drew global attention, becoming a focal point for discussions regarding the influence of digital folklore on impressionable youth and the capacity of minors to commit premeditated violence.

From Institution to Release

At age 15, Geyser pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder as part of a plea agreement to avoid prison time. She was sentenced to 40 years in a mental health institution, where she remained for nearly seven years. In January 2025, a judge approved her release from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute, citing medical reports that suggested she no longer posed a danger to herself or others.

Her transition back into the community was complicated by significant local opposition. A facility in Sun Prairie declined to accept her due to public backlash, and she was eventually placed in a group home in Madison. It was from this home that she disappeared, cutting off her monitoring bracelet before leaving.

Systemic Implications and Public Anxiety

The escape underscores the challenges inherent in managing the reintegration of offenders who commit violent acts at a young age. While rehabilitation remains a cornerstone of the juvenile justice system, incidents of absconding highlight the tension between the legal mandate for second chances and the requirement for community safety.

For the victim and her family, Geyser's disappearance serves as a reminder of the attack and its aftermath. Furthermore, the ease with which the monitoring device was disabled has prompted scrutiny of the technological safeguards relied upon by the Department of Corrections.

As authorities continue their search, the episode has evolved beyond a missing persons case into a stress test for the state's supervisory systems. The focus now rests on whether the current protocols are sufficient to manage the risks associated with high-profile psychiatric releases.

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