Morgan Geyser, one of the two middle school students involved in the tragic 2014 stabbing incident, was a 12-year-old who participated in an illegal and brutal act of attempted murder against her classmate, Payton Leutner, in an attempt to appease the Slender Man. The case was initially reported in the news and sparked public discourse due to the involvement of internet myth and the severity of the crime committed by young girls under the influence of fictional characters.
Geyser was initially sentenced to 40 years in a psychiatric institute in 2018 after being diagnosed with schizophrenia. Despite her incarceration, she was eventually deemed mentally fit for release in 2023, which led to her placement in a group home in Wisconsin. However, the decision to release Geyser was met with resistance from experts and the family of her victim, who warned of the potential risks and signs that she may not have been fully prepared for reintegration into society.
During a court hearing, Geyser was found to provide fake information to officers after escaping her group home, leading to a multi-state manhunt. The incident raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the legal and mental health systems in managing individuals with mental illnesses who have a history of violent behavior. The escape of Geyser has prompted experts to re-evaluate the decision-making process that led to her release and raise concerns about the long-term psychological effects on her victim, who has since been re-traumatized by the event.