Morgan Geyser, one of two Wisconsin girls convicted in the infamous 2014 “Slender Man” stabbing, is set to be released from a state-run psychiatric hospital this week, sparking renewed concerns from community leaders, legal experts, and the family of her victim.
Now 22 years old, Geyser will transition to a group home setting after spending the past seven years in institutional psychiatric care. At age 12, she and classmate Anissa Weier lured fellow sixth-grader Payton Leutner into the woods and stabbed her 19 times in a premeditated attack meant to appease the fictional horror character “Slender Man.” Leutner survived the attack after crawling to a road for help. Both girls were found not criminally responsible due to mental illness and committed to mental health facilities—Weier for 25 years and Geyser for up to 40.
Geyser’s release comes as part of a “conditional step-down” plan, approved by a judge last week following multiple hearings. The plan will transfer her to a less restrictive, community-based facility where she will be supervised but granted more freedom. Specifics of the release plan remain confidential, a point that has drawn frustration from residents and city officials in the town where Geyser is being relocated.
City attorneys raised alarm about the placement being in close proximity to schools, daycares, and parks. “All we know is that she’s going to be placed in a community,” one city representative told the court. “If residents see her walking around with supervision, they’ll know exactly who she is.”
The confidential nature of the release conditions has left residents and even local law enforcement with limited insight into what safeguards are in place. While the Department of Health Services assured the court that Geyser will be GPS monitored and under close supervision, critics say those assurances are insufficient. “This isn’t a locked facility anymore,” said Court TV commentator and psychologist Dr. Sood Kornbluth. “We’re talking about someone who was delusional enough at 12 years old to plan a murder. That kind of illness doesn’t just go away.”
Victim Payton Leutner and her family were informed of Geyser’s release, but did not publicly speak at the hearing. A court representative said the family now views the updated plan—a facility offering more structured treatment and peer interaction—as “the lesser of two evils.” Still, they expressed disappointment at not knowing the details of Geyser’s monitoring and voiced a desire for maximum caution.
Critics also questioned the timeline. Geyser’s initial release plan earlier this year was halted due to its proximity to Leutner’s residence, prompting state officials to propose a new location in Sun Prairie. The quick move to a new facility—and the court’s quick approval—raised fears that the system may be more concerned with expedience than public safety.
Geyser’s attorney defended the plan, noting that she has spent nearly a decade under institutional control and has shown no violent behavior since her arrest. “She’ll be closely supervised, and if anything happens, she’ll be immediately returned to inpatient care,” he said.
Still, many observers remain uneasy. “We should not forget that this case involved 19 stab wounds and a child left for dead in the woods,” said parenting expert Dr. Kornbluth. “Morgan Geyser may have rights, but so does the community. And so does the girl who survived.”
