Police in the suburban community of Posen released new information Monday morning after a dramatic development in the infamous 2014 “Slender Man” stabbing case. One of the attackers, Morgan Geyser, was taken into custody after officers found her sleeping outside an Illinois truck stop—roughly 24 hours after she escaped from a group home in Madison, Wisconsin.
The update comes 12 years after Geyser, now 23, admitted to luring a middle school classmate into the woods in Waukesha and stabbing her repeatedly in an attempt to appease the fictional internet horror figure known as “Slender Man.”
Escape From Group Home
On Sunday morning, Madison police issued an alert after discovering that Geyser had cut off her electronic monitoring bracelet and left the group home where she had been placed following her conditional release. Authorities said she was last seen around 8 p.m. Saturday with an adult acquaintance, and that her ankle monitor stopped transmitting around 9:30 a.m. Sunday.
By early Monday, police in Posen—located about 25 miles south of Chicago—confirmed that Geyser had been found and arrested.
Found at Illinois Truck Stop
Later that morning, Posen police provided additional details. Officers had been dispatched to a Thornton’s Truck Stop at 14840 Western Avenue after reports of a man and woman loitering behind the building. When police arrived, they discovered both individuals asleep on the sidewalk.
According to police, the woman repeatedly refused to give her real name, offering a false one instead. After continued questioning, she eventually told officers she didn’t want to reveal her identity because she had “done something really bad,” adding that they could “just Google” her name.
Once she finally disclosed her real identity, officers confirmed she was Morgan Geyser and that she was wanted out of Wisconsin for leaving the group home without authorization.
Geyser and the man she was with were taken into custody without incident. Posen police told NBC 5’s Lisa Chavarria that the man was charged with criminal trespass and obstructing identification for providing false information. He was later released.
Legal Proceedings and Attorney’s Statement
Court records show Geyser appeared before a judge Monday in Markham. She was ordered to be held in the Cook County Jail pending an extradition hearing scheduled for Tuesday.
Her attorney, Tony Cotton, posted an Instagram video Sunday saying he was unaware of what led to her disappearance and urged her to turn herself in. In a statement to NBC Chicago on Monday, Cotton expressed concern that Geyser might have been influenced by someone she met after her release.
“Right now we do not know the circumstances behind Morgan’s departure from the group home—namely whether she left voluntarily or whether something more nefarious took place, such as an abduction,” Cotton said. “We are glad that Morgan was found safely and returned to custody.”
He added that his “biggest fear” following Geyser’s conditional release was her vulnerability in new relationships, particularly with older men who might take advantage of her. Cotton noted that during his 12 years representing her, he witnessed “seemingly normal men” attempt to involve themselves with her in concerning ways.
Background: The 2014 Slender Man Stabbing Case
The original case dates back to 2014, when Geyser and her classmate Anissa Weier lured their then-12-year-old friend, Payton Leutner, into a wooded area in Waukesha after a sleepover. Once there, Geyser stabbed Leutner more than a dozen times while Weier encouraged the attack.
Leutner was left for dead but survived after a bicyclist found her and summoned help.
The two girls later told detectives they carried out the attack to earn favor with Slender Man, a supernatural character created online by Eric Knudson in 2009. They claimed they believed the fictional figure lived in a mansion in the woods and would harm their families if they didn’t act.
Geyser was found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect and was committed to a psychiatric institution in 2018. She was granted conditional release earlier this year and placed into a group home.
Weier pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree intentional homicide and was also committed before being granted release in 2021.
Statement From Victim’s Family
The family of survivor Payton Leutner issued a statement Sunday night reassuring the public of their safety.
“Payton and her family are safe and are working closely with local law enforcement to ensure their continued safety,” the statement said. “The family would like to thank all of the law enforcement entities involved in the efforts to apprehend Morgan.”
They also expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from friends, family, and community members during what they described as a difficult time.
