The Lingering Shadow of Slender Man: Morgan Geyser's Brief Escape and Recapture

It’s a story that just won't fade, a chilling chapter in modern true crime: the 'Slender Man' stabbing. And you know what? A recent incident brought it all rushing back into the public consciousness. We're talking about Morgan Geyser, one of the two girls involved in that horrific 2014 attack, and her very short-lived escape from a state-run mental health facility.

Bodycam footage, recently made public, really puts you in the moment as authorities moved to recapture her. Imagine the scene: it's a calm day, but there's an underlying tension. Geyser, who was 19 at the time of her escape in 2021, had managed to slip away from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She was found not too far from the facility, thankfully, bringing an end to what could have been a much more concerning situation.

For those unfamiliar, or perhaps those who've tried to forget, the 'Slender Man' case is a truly disturbing one. Back in 2014, when Geyser was just 12 years old, she and her friend, Anissa Weier, lured their classmate into a wooded park in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Their motive? To appease the fictional online horror character, Slender Man. What followed was brutal: their friend was stabbed 19 times and left for dead. Incredibly, the victim, Payton Leutner, survived that horrific ordeal, managing to crawl to safety and get help. It’s a testament to her sheer will to live.

The legal aftermath for Geyser was complex, to say the least. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, she was ultimately found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. This verdict led to her commitment to the state facility for a lengthy period—25 years, in fact—a stark reflection of the severity of her illness and the crime committed. Her accomplice, Weier, also faced commitment but was later granted conditional release, albeit under very strict supervision.

So, when news broke of Geyser's escape, even if it was quickly resolved, it undoubtedly sent a shiver down many spines. It’s a potent reminder of the enduring nature of mental health struggles, especially those as profound as schizophrenia, and the delicate balance between public safety and therapeutic care. The bodycam footage, while just a small piece of the puzzle, closes a brief, anxious chapter in a story that continues to resonate with its chilling blend of childhood innocence, dark fantasy, and unimaginable violence.