A Wisconsin judge upholds the previous ruling to allow Morgan Geyser to be released conditionally. This most recent ruling stems from a motion filed by the state to block her release, claiming she poses a threat. The prosecution argued that Geyser is not fit to be released due to some concerns they have from a novel she has been reading and her communication with a man on the outside. Whether they believe she is a danger does not matter because she is only being transferred to a different facility where she will have more social interaction, not more freedom.
Slender Man Stabbing
Morgan Geyser has spent seven years in the Winnebago Mental Health Institution following her conviction of brutally stabbing her classmate. In May 2014, Geyser and her friend, Anissa Weier, were 12 years old when they lured Payton Leutner into the woods. Geyser proceeded to stab her 19 times while Weier egged her on. The attackers convinced themselves that if they did not sacrifice their classmate, the fictional boogeyman known as Slender Man would harm their families.
Leutner thankfully survived but has endured more trauma than any 12-year-old should. In 2018, Morgan Geyser pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide. She was sentenced to 40 years in the Winnebago Mental Health Institute. As for Weier, she pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree intentional homicide. She was sentenced to 25 years at the same institution. However, she was conditionally released in 2021 into her father’s custody.
Motion Blocked
In January, Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren ruled that Morgan Geyser poses no threat to society and has maxed out her treatment options in her current institution. He granted her a conditional release to a group home where she would continue to receive mental health treatment and be monitored. During Geyser’s most recent March 6, 2025 hearing, Judge Bohren said “there is no reason to stop the process on conditional release.”
The motion filed by the state to stop Morgan Geyser’s release addressed two concerns raised by the Institution. Geyser had a book that included dark themes and her communication with a man who was “sexually aroused” by the Slender Man stabbing. She sent him a piece of artwork with a violent theme.
Geyser’s attorney, Anthony Cotton, informed the judge that both “incidents” were reported to the people determining her release. They felt there were no underlying concerns or the possibility of future issues. Geyser stopped communicating with the man once she realized his intentions. Cotton explained, “It was a hit job. I mean she’s done everything right. She’s followed the rules, she hasn’t done anything wrong, she needs to get out.”
Thoughts on Morgan Geyser’s Release
The prosecution did not provide enough to sway Morgan Geyser’s doctor’s opinions of her current stability. The judge valued their opinions and considered them when making his decision. Geyser allowed her therapist to testify and share confidential conversations which satisfied the judge even more. The attempt to block her release has failed and may leave some concerned and the parents of Payton Leutner displeased. A hearing has been scheduled for March 21, 2025, to discuss Morgan Geyser’s conditional release plan.
Morgan Geyser does not seem to threaten society as the state or institution insinuates. She was shy of being a teenager when she committed her horrendous crime. Her release does not diminish the harm and pain she has caused. It also does not mean that she is innocent. She has served her time and will continue receiving mental health treatment. Geyser should remain under the supervision of mental health professionals but deserves to be reintegrated into society by being placed in a group home.
