Conditional Release Approved for Wisconsin Woman in Slenderman Case

After years spent in a mental health facility, a Wisconsin woman involved in the infamous 2014 “Slenderman” case has received a conditional release. This decision comes after extensive deliberation, as reported by the Associated Press.

Morgan Geyser, now 22, had confessed to stabbing her friend, Payton Lautner, back in 2014 when she was just 12 years old. Under a plea agreement, she has been committed to the psychiatric institution for the past eight years. Recently, a judge in Waukesha County sanctioned her release, highlighting the lengthy legal journey that included expert testimonies, objections from prosecutors, and a thorough examination of her mental health.

In January, mental health experts had testified in favor of Geyser’s release, which had initially been endorsed by a judge.

However, concerns were raised earlier this year. Lautner’s mother expressed apprehension about Geyser potentially living in a group home only eight miles away from their residence, leading prosecutors to voice their opposition to the release. As a response, the judge asked the Department of Health to put together a revised resettlement plan, which ultimately received approval, clearing the way for Geyser’s conditional release.

Geyser, along with an accomplice, gained national attention when they lured Lautner into a wooded area and attacked her, inflicting 19 stab wounds. All three girls were just 12 at that time.

In interviews with authorities, Geyser and her accomplice explained their belief that they had to serve as “proxies” for Slenderman by harming Lautner to protect their families. Remarkably, Lautner survived the assault after being rescued by a passerby.

In 2017, Geyser pleaded guilty to charges of attempted first-degree intentional murder, asserting that her mental state at the time mitigated her culpability. She was subsequently committed to the state for up to 40 years for mental health supervision. Geyser has been at the Winnebago Mental Health Institute but has requested conditional release every six months.

Her accomplice, who also pleaded guilty to being an accessory to the attempted murder, was given a 25-year sentence in a mental health facility but was released in 2021 under specific conditions to live with her father and wear a GPS monitor.

As for Geyser’s release timeline, the specifics remain under wraps for now. Attempts to reach Geyser’s lawyer for comments went unanswered.