URGENT UPDATE: Morgan Geyser, the 23-year-old Wisconsin woman who attempted to murder a classmate to please the fictional horror character Slender Man, has been recaptured in Illinois after fleeing from a group home. Geyser cut off her ankle monitor and went missing, prompting a swift police response from Madison, Wisconsin officials late Sunday night.
Geyser was located at a truck stop in Posen, Illinois, roughly 25 miles south of Chicago and 170 miles south of Madison. According to the Posen Police Department, she was found in the company of a 42-year-old man, who faces charges for criminal trespassing and obstructing identification. He has since been released from custody.
Authorities reported that Geyser was last seen around 8 p.m. on Saturday with an adult acquaintance. Alarmingly, the Madison Police Department did not learn about her disappearance until nearly 12 hours later. The Wisconsin Department of Corrections received an alert Saturday night indicating that Geyser’s ankle monitor had malfunctioned. Two hours later, police were informed by the group home that she had removed the device and was missing.
Police have released a recent image of Geyser captured on security video to aid in public awareness. Geyser has been residing in a group home after her release earlier this year from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute, where she spent the last seven years following her initial conviction. Experts had testified that she made significant progress in managing her mental illness before her release.
The shocking backstory includes the brutal attack on Payton Leutner in May 2014, when Geyser and her friend, Anissa Weier, lured Leutner to a park after a sleepover. Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times, while Weier encouraged her actions. In their minds, the attack was a means to become servants of Slender Man, driven by a fear that he would harm their families if they failed.
Geyser and Weier were apprehended while walking along Interstate 94 shortly after the attack. Both girls, then just 12, claimed they were compelled to act by the fictional character. Leutner miraculously survived the assault, but the incident sent shockwaves through the community.
In 2017, Geyser pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide, asserting that her mental illness absolved her of full responsibility. The following year, she was committed to a psychiatric facility for 40 years by Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren. Weier received a 25-year commitment but was released in 2021 after agreeing to live with her father and wear a GPS monitor.
Residents are urged to stay vigilant as Geyser’s recapture raises questions about the safety protocols surrounding individuals with serious mental health histories. Authorities continue to assess the circumstances surrounding her escape and how to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As this story develops, further updates will be provided. Stay tuned for more breaking news on this case and its implications for community safety.