In a case that has continued to capture national attention, Morgan Geyser, now 21, will remain confined to a psychiatric hospital after a Wisconsin judge denied her request for release, marking another chapter in the notorious “Slender Man stabbing” saga. The decision underscores the ongoing struggle to balance individual rehabilitation with public safety in the aftermath of violent crimes committed by juveniles.
In 2014, at the age of 12, Geyser and her friend Anissa Weier, entranced by the fictional internet boogeyman Slender Man, lured classmate Payton Leutner to a Waukesha park and stabbed her 19 times. The victim narrowly survived the attack. Both perpetrators were found not guilty by reason of mental disease and have been institutionalized since their convictions.
The request for Geyser’s release came after she had served approximately eight years of her 40-year commitment to Winnebago Mental Health Institute. Her defense presented testimony from two psychiatrists who believed she was ready for conditional release. Dr. Ken Robbins, who has followed Geyser’s case since 2014, stated, “Morgan has improved quite dramatically. … The kinds of things Morgan needs in my view — help with socialization, help with education, help with becoming independent — are things Winnebago can no longer provide in an effective way.” Dr. Kayla Pope, the institute’s medical director, concurred, asserting, “She has actively participated in therapy, medication management and all the treatments that are available. At this point she is safe to return to the community. I don’t know that much more could be done to make her safer.”
However, Waukesha County Judge Michael Bohren was not persuaded by these arguments. His ruling emphasized the gravity of the crime and the perceived ongoing risk to the public, saying, “The scales tip in favor of the public, and it tips that way by clear and convincing evidence.” He expressed concerns over Geyser’s credibility, particularly regarding her changing narrative of the events, from attributing the attack to Slender Man’s influence to citing an abusive father and a trauma-related mental disorder.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Brooke Lundbohm added a cautionary note on the readiness of Geyser’s release, saying, “The fact that these clinical factors continue to exist, and are quite prominent, that raises concerns for me about her readiness.” The prosecution also vehemently opposed Geyser’s release, with family members of the victim reportedly maintaining strong objections.
This recent decision parallels the case of Anissa Weier, who was granted conditional release in 2021 to live with her father under strict supervision, including a GPS monitor. The variance in their cases may reflect differing assessments of their rehabilitation progress or differing interpretations of the risk they may pose.
Attorney Tony Cotton, representing Geyser, emphasized that his client has not wavered in her story. “Time will show she is a healthy and stable person who needs to be released to the community. Time has shown that, I think we’ll pursue it in six months. I think she’s making progress, and the doctors hinted at that, so I would expect so.” Cotton told The Associated Press.
Relevant articles:
– Woman who stabbed classmate to please ‘Slender Man’ won’t be released | AP News
– Slender Man stabbing: Judge denies Morgan Geyser’s petition for conditional release, WISN Milwaukee, Thu, 11 Apr 2024 23:13:00 GMT
– Wisconsin woman in Slender Man stabbing will remain in psychiatric hospital after release petition denied, CBS News, Thu, 11 Apr 2024 21:23:00 GMT
– Judge denies release from psychiatric institute for woman involved in ‘Slender Man’ attack, NBC News, Thu, 11 Apr 2024 20:09:34 GMT