URGENT UPDATE: Morgan Geyser, the convicted assailant in the notorious Slender Man stabbing case, has been apprehended in Posen, Illinois, following a dramatic escape from a group home. Authorities confirmed her arrest at 9:54 p.m. on Sunday, after she allegedly removed her monitoring bracelet and fled from Wisconsin.
Geyser, who gained infamy in 2014 when she and another girl stabbed their classmate, Payton Leutner, 19 times to appease the fictional character “Slender Man,” was found at a Thornton’s Truck stop at 14840 S. Western Avenue. She was reportedly in the company of a 42-year-old man, and both had traveled to Posen by bus. The man has since been charged with criminal trespassing and obstructing identification.
The police were alerted to Geyser’s disappearance early Sunday, having last seen her in Madison, Wisconsin, around 8 p.m. on Saturday. Authorities had issued a public plea for information, and Geyser’s mother, Angie Geyser, had urged anyone with knowledge of her whereabouts to contact law enforcement, stating, “Morgan, if you can see this, we love you and just want to know you are safe.”
Geyser’s recent escape highlights ongoing concerns regarding her mental health and supervision. In March, Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Michael Bohren ordered her release from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute to a group home, where she was to remain under supervision with a monitoring device. However, she cut off this bracelet, prompting a multi-state manhunt.
Geyser, now 22 years old, and her accomplice Anissa Weier were charged as adults for the 2014 attack. Initially pleading guilty, they later had their pleas vacated after being found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Geyser was sentenced to a maximum of 40 years in a psychiatric institution, while Weier received up to 25 years and was granted supervised release in 2021.
The Leutner family, who have been in contact with law enforcement, expressed gratitude for the swift response of police in locating Geyser. A spokesperson for the family stated, “Payton and her family are safe and are working closely with local law enforcement to ensure their continued safety.”
As Geyser awaits extradition to Cook County Jail, her future remains uncertain. Her attorney, Tony Cotton, has publicly urged her to turn herself in, indicating it is “in her best interest” to do so.
The events of this weekend not only reignite memories of the tragic incident that shocked the nation but also raise critical questions about mental health treatment and supervision for individuals convicted of violent crimes. As the situation develops, the community watches closely for updates on Geyser’s next steps and the ongoing safety of Payton Leutner and her family.
Stay tuned for more updates on this breaking story as it unfolds.
