MADISON, Wis. (AP) — After a judge received testimony from experts indicating significant progress in her battle against mental illness, a Wisconsin woman convicted of stabbing her sixth-grade classmate to please the online character Slender Man at the age of 12 will be released from a psychiatric hospital. Morgan Geyser, who has spent nearly seven years at the Winnebago Mental Health Institute, had petitioned for release multiple times, with the latest petition being filed in October. Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren granted her release on Thursday, stating that she had made considerable progress in her treatment and was deemed no longer a safety risk.
Geyser, now 22 years old, had previously pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide and was committed to the psychiatric institute in 2018. Along with her accomplice Anissa Weier, she lured their classmate to a park in 2014 and stabbed her 19 times. Weier was granted release in 2021.
During Thursday’s hearing, three psychologists testified that Geyser had shown impressive progress in recent months, including being weaned off anti-psychotic medications and improving coping skills and emotional control. While acknowledging the severity of her crime, the judge emphasized Geyser’s growth and readiness to reintegrate into society. An individualized plan for her release to a group home under supervision was ordered to be prepared within 60 days.
Despite concerns from the prosecution about Geyser’s trustworthiness, the experts testified that she has expressed remorse for her actions and demonstrated positive changes that support her potential for successful reintegration.
Anissa Weier’s attorney suggested during her court hearing that she and Morgan Geyser attacked Payton Leutner as a means of fleeing from Anissa’s abusive father. The attorney hinted that this explanation was presented in order to improve the likelihood of Anissa’s release. However, the judge dismissed this suggestion, noting that it is not uncommon for diagnoses of mental illness to develop over time.
