In a dramatic turn of events, Morgan Geyser, the woman infamous for the 2014 Slender Man-inspired stabbing of her classmate, was taken back into custody after escaping from a Wisconsin group home where she was under supervised release.
The Escape and Capture
Authorities confirmed that Geyser, now 23 years old, removed her Department of Corrections monitoring bracelet on Sunday night and left the group home facility in Madison. The Madison Police Department received official notification of her disappearance on Sunday morning and immediately released a recent surveillance image to aid in the search.
Geyser was eventually located at a Thornton's truck stop in Posen, Illinois, approximately 25 minutes south of Chicago. According to Posen police, she was found with another individual. Investigation revealed that the pair had traveled by bus from Madison, where Geyser was last seen around 8 pm on Saturday with an adult acquaintance.
Legal Response and Concerns
Following news of her escape, Geyser's attorney, Tony Cotton, publicly urged her to surrender, emphasizing that it was "in her best interest" to turn herself in to authorities. The legal team and law enforcement worked collaboratively to ensure her safe apprehension.
Geyser had been living in the group home following her supervised release from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute in March. She had spent nearly seven years at the mental health facility before her release, which came after three psychologists testified that she was prepared for supervised community care.
However, prosecutors had previously expressed concerns about her communications and reading materials while institutionalized, indicating ongoing worries about her mental state and potential risks.
Background: The Chilling 2014 Attack
The case dates back to 2014 when Morgan Geyser and her friend Anissa Weier, both just 12 years old at the time, were charged as adults for the brutal stabbing of their classmate Payton Leutner in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
The attack was particularly disturbing in its planning and execution. The girls lured Leutner to a local park after she had attended Geyser's slumber party to celebrate her birthday. In a shocking act of violence, Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times while Weier watched. Miraculously, Leutner survived the attack by crawling to safety and receiving medical attention.
Both girls initially pleaded guilty to the charges, but their pleas were later vacated when they were found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Geyser received a sentence of up to 40 years in a psychiatric institution, while Weier was sentenced to up to 25 years. Weier was granted supervised release in 2021.
Victim's Response and Recovery
Payton Leutner and her family were promptly informed about Geyser's escape and subsequent capture. A family spokesperson confirmed they are safe and "working closely with local law enforcement to ensure their continued safety." The family expressed gratitude to authorities and the public for their support during this concerning development.
In a 2019 interview with ABC, Leutner had spoken about her long journey of healing from the traumatic attack. She stated, "I've come to accept all of the scars that I have... I don't think much of them. They will probably go away and fade eventually." Her resilience in the face of such trauma has been remarkable.
Authorities continue to investigate how Geyser managed to leave the facility and whether she received assistance from others. The removal of her monitoring bracelet raises serious questions about the effectiveness of current supervision methods for individuals with her history and mental health background.
