Morgan Geyser, the woman convicted of a near-fatal stabbing inspired by the fictional horror character Slender Man, has been taken into custody after cutting off her electronic monitoring bracelet and fleeing a group home.
Dramatic Capture Ends Brief Manhunt
The Madison Police Department confirmed on Sunday evening that Geyser was apprehended in Illinois, ending a search that began when authorities discovered her whereabouts were unknown. Police had earlier issued a public alert urging anyone spotting Geyser to immediately call 911.
Geyser was last seen around 8pm local time on Saturday with an adult acquaintance, according to official statements. Her disappearance prompted concern given the violent nature of her original offence.
From Childhood Horror to Adult Consequences
Now an adult, Geyser was sentenced to 40 years in a psychiatric hospital following the 2014 attack that shocked the United States. She and her friend Anissa Weier, both just 12 years old at the time, lured a classmate to a suburban Milwaukee park after a sleepover.
In a brutal assault that left the victim fighting for life, Geyser stabbed their classmate more than a dozen times while Weier encouraged the attack. Both girls claimed they committed the violence to impress Slender Man, an internet-born horror figure they believed would harm their families if they didn't follow through.
Conditional Release Turns to Flight
Geyser had been moved to a group home earlier this year after being granted conditional release from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute. Her lawyer, Tony Cotton, expressed concern upon learning of her disappearance, urging her to turn herself in immediately.
"It's in her best interest for her to turn herself in immediately and not continue with this course of action," Cotton stated in an Instagram video post. "We don't know any of the facts about what happened or who might have assisted her."
In a legal agreement with prosecutors, Geyser had pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide to avoid prison, instead receiving her lengthy mental health commitment. Weier pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree intentional homicide and was granted release from the psychiatric centre in 2021.
The case highlighted the disturbing influence of online horror mythology on vulnerable young minds. Slender Man, created in 2009, depicts a mysterious figure with elongated limbs who became a popular internet bogeyman appearing in games, stories, and a 2018 film.
