Woman Convicted in ‘Slender Man’ Stabbing Found in Illinois After Disappearing from Wisconsin Group Home
Authorities in Illinois located Morgan Geyser, the woman convicted in the notorious “Slender Man” stabbing, after she removed her Department of Corrections tracking bracelet and disappeared from her Wisconsin group home, police announced Sunday.
Posen police said their department got involved after officers were dispatched late Sunday evening to Thornton’s Truck Stop, following reports of a man and woman “loitering behind the building.” When they arrived, officers discovered two people asleep on the sidewalk.
“The female repeatedly refused to provide her real name and initially gave a false one. After continued attempts to identify her, she finally stated that she didn’t want to tell officers who she was because she had ‘done something really bad,’ and suggested that officers could ‘just Google’ her name.”
Once she finally identified herself, officials confirmed the woman was indeed Geyser, now 22. The man who was with her, whose name was not released, was also taken into custody.
The Madison Police Department said it was first notified at 10:34 p.m. Sunday that Geyser had been apprehended, long after she had already vanished from her assigned group home.
In an earlier update Sunday night, the department published a rough timeline showing when Geyser went missing and how communication between agencies unfolded:
- 8:15 p.m. Saturday: Last sighting of Geyser at the group home.
- 9:30 p.m.: DOC systems flagged what was believed to be a malfunction in her location monitor.
- 11:30 p.m.: DOC contacted the group home.
- 11:35 p.m.: Staff informed DOC that Geyser wasn’t there and had taken off her bracelet.
- Midnight: DOC sent out a request to other agencies to apprehend her if seen.
- 7:46 a.m. Sunday: Group home called 911 to report her missing.
- 7:58 a.m.: Madison police were sent out on the missing person report.
The Madison Police Department emphasized that this “was the first time the Madison Police Department was made aware that Geyser was missing,” adding that it never received the DOC’s earlier request for assistance.
A Wisconsin judge granted Geyser conditional release earlier this year, approving her transfer from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute, where she spent nearly seven years, to a supervised group home.
Geyser had been 12 years old when she and a friend lured classmate Payton Leutner into a wooded park in suburban Milwaukee, stabbing her repeatedly in an attack inspired by the online urban legend “Slender Man.” The victim survived despite life-threatening wounds. Geyser was later sentenced to a maximum of 40 years in a mental health facility.
Her attorneys said at the time that Geyser and her co-defendant believed their families would be harmed by the fictional creature if they didn’t carry out the attack.
Following news of her disappearance, Geyser’s lawyer, Anthony Cotton, posted a video online urging his client to surrender.
“We just heard the news that Morgan has walked away from the group home that she was housed at. Obviously, it’s in her best interest to turn herself in immediately and not continue with this course of action. If anybody has contact with Morgan, hears from her, or if Morgan happens to see this, turn yourself in. Do not continue to remain on the run like this.”
In a statement, Leutner’s family confirmed they were aware Geyser was missing and that they had been working closely with law enforcement.
“Payton and her family are safe and are working closely with local law enforcement to ensure their continued safety. The family would like to thank all of the law enforcement entities involved in the efforts to apprehend Morgan. The Leutner family also wish to thank the outpouring of support from family, friends, and well-wishers who have contacted them during this difficult time.”
Officials have not released details about the specific group home Geyser departed. Wisconsin’s Department of Corrections lists several programs for people transitioning from mental health institutions, post-prison facilities, and drug treatment programs through its Division of Community Corrections.
Moumita Basuroychowdhury is a Contributing Reporter at The National Digest. After earning an economics degree at Cornell University, she moved to NYC to pursue her MFA in creative writing. She enjoys reporting on science, business and culture news. You can reach her at moumita.b@thenationaldigest.com.
