That meant, especially now that she’s 23 years old, Geyser would remain elusive. She had recently discharged from a group home in which she had resided following her role in the horrific stabbing of her classmate, Payton Leutner. At the time of the incident, which shocked the nation, Geyser was 12 years old. It was focused on the world of internet folklore, most prominently demonstrated by the urban legend Slender Man.
On May 31, 2014, Geyser and her friend Anissa Weier lured Leutner into a park in Waukesha, Wisconsin. They even used the pretense of a sleepover to get her to go. Geyser brutally assaulted Leutner, stabbing her over 20 times. She hoped this savage deed would entitle her to become Slender Man’s servant. Both girls were afraid that if they failed to complete the attack, their families would be injured. This panic was the result of a completely made-up force that Eric Knudsen invented on the internet in 2009.
Geyser had been found guilty of attempted second-degree intentional homicide. After being found guilty but mentally ill, she was committed to a psych facility for treatment. In 2021, she was given conditional release and transferred to a group home.
Geyser was last seen on Saturday evening around 8 PM with an adult friend. According to media reports, she removed her Department of Corrections tracking bracelet before going missing. Her lawyer, Tony Cotton, said he was worried about her health and safety and encouraged her to surrender to authorities.
“It’s in her best interest for her to turn herself in immediately and not continue with this course of action,” – Tony Cotton
Cotton further stated that the circumstances surrounding her disappearance are unclear:
“We don’t know any of the facts about what happened or who might have assisted her.” – Tony Cotton
Her attack wasn’t just vicious, it left Payton in a position to be literally fighting for her life. Fortunately, she survived, but has since had to live with the impacts of that tragic day.
The trial of Geyser and Weier became a national spectacle. It raised critical conversations around mental health, the effects of online culture, and parents’ and guardians’ responsibilities. Slender Man became a cultural phenomenon. You don’t have to look far to find it—in video games, online stories, and yes, even a feature film that released into theaters in 2018.
Please note that law enforcement is still seeking Morgan Geyser. Local community members and mental health advocates have rallied those with information about her whereabouts to return home.