A Wisconsin woman who admitted to a violent 2014 attack inspired by the online horror character Slender Man is missing, authorities confirmed Sunday.
According to The Associated Press, Morgan Geyser, 23, was last seen around 8 p.m. Saturday, leaving a group home with an adult acquaintance after cutting off her electronic monitoring device, Madison police said.
“If you see Geyser, please call 911,” the alert read, noting she had removed a “Department of Corrections monitoring bracelet.”
Earlier this year, Geyser was placed in the group home after receiving conditional release from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute.
She had been sent to the psychiatric facility in 2018 following a plea deal in which she admitted to attempted first-degree intentional homicide, avoiding prison time. Her attorney, Tony Cotton, did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
The stabbing incident took place when Geyser and her friend, Anissa Weier, were 12 years old. The two lured classmate Payton Leutner to a suburban Milwaukee park after a sleepover. Geyser stabbed Leutner more than a dozen times while Weier encouraged the attack. Leutner survived despite her severe injuries.
Both girls told investigators they attacked Leutner to gain the favor of Slender Man, an online fictional figure created by Eric Knudson in 2009.
They claimed fear that failure to follow through would endanger their families. Slender Man has since become a well-known internet boogeyman, appearing in video games, online stories, and a 2018 movie.
Weier also faced legal consequences, pleading guilty to attempted second-degree intentional homicide. She was committed to the psychiatric institute and was released in 2021.
Authorities are actively searching for Geyser and caution the public to remain vigilant given her violent history. The Madison Police Department urged anyone with information about her whereabouts to contact 911 immediately.
Geyser’s disappearance underscores ongoing concerns about safely reintegrating individuals with violent pasts and serious mental health challenges into the community.
