The Shadow Lingers: Slender Man Stabber Morgan Geyser Vanishes After Cutting Ankle Monitor

It’s a chilling update to a story that, for many, still haunts the collective memory: Morgan Geyser, one of the two young women behind the infamous 2014 "Slender Man" stabbing, has reportedly gone missing. News broke recently that Geyser, now 21, apparently removed her electronic monitoring device, vanishing from her Waukesha, Wisconsin home.

This isn't just any disappearance, of course. We're talking about a case that gripped the nation and, honestly, the world. Back in May of 2014, Geyser and Anissa Weier, then just 12 years old, lured their classmate, Payton Leutner, into the woods. There, they stabbed her 19 times, believing – truly believing, it seems – that this horrific act would appease the fictional online character, Slender Man, and protect their families. It was a brutal, senseless act that thankfully, Leutner miraculously survived, crawling to safety despite her severe injuries.

After years spent at the Winnebago Mental Health Institute, where she received treatment following her "not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect" plea, Geyser was conditionally released in 2022. This wasn't a free pass, mind you. Her release came with strict conditions, including the mandatory wearing of an electronic monitoring device, constant supervision, and ongoing mental health treatment. The judge at the time, while acknowledging the profound gravity of her past actions, had deemed her a "pretty low risk" to the community, highlighting the strides she'd made in her mental health journey.

But now, that careful balance seems to have been shattered. Reports indicate that Geyser cut off her ankle monitor sometime Monday afternoon. Naturally, authorities in Waukesha are now in full investigation mode, working to locate her. One can only imagine the surge of unease, perhaps even outright fear, this news has sent through the community and, frankly, anyone familiar with the original case.

It's worth noting, too, that Anissa Weier, the other young woman involved in the stabbing, was released a bit earlier, in 2021. Her path to reintegration has, so far at least, been less dramatic, or at least less publicly fraught with this kind of alarming development. It underscores the varied and complex nature of mental health recovery, especially after such a deeply traumatic event.

This situation, let's be clear, is a stark reminder of the long shadow cast by that horrific incident nearly a decade ago. It reopens old wounds and raises serious questions about public safety and the ongoing management of individuals with complex mental health histories, particularly when they've committed such violent acts. The hope, of course, is that Morgan Geyser is located quickly and safely, allowing for a clearer understanding of what led to this troubling turn of events and ensuring the well-being of all involved.