WAUEKSHA, Wis. (Scripps News Milwaukee) — The Slender Man case that shocked the community a decade ago is back in a Waukesha County courtroom. A judge will decide if Morgan Geyser can be released from a mental institution. The other girl involved, Anissa Weier is already out. The two girls were 12 years old when they attacked their friend and fellow sixth grader Payton Leutner.
Morgan Geyser sits in court. (Court TV)
Now, 21 year-old Geyser sits quietly in the courtroom, mainly with her head down and her hair covering her face. She listens while doctors and lawyers talk about whether she is still a danger to the public.
“My opinion is she still presents a risk of significant bodily harm to herself or others,” said Deborah Collins, a psychologist testifying for the prosecution.
Collins was first hired by the defense to testify about Geyser’s mental competency after she was arrested for stabbing Payton Leutner while Weier urged her on. Geyser and Weier said they did it to appease the fictional character Slender Man and to keep him from killing their families.
Both of the girls were found guilty of attempted homicide by mental disease or defect and sentenced to a mental health facility. Weier was granted a conditional release. Now Geyser wants the same. This is the third time she had tried for one. In 2022, when Geyser was trying for conditional release, Collins said she made some concerns statements.
“She told her psychiatrist that she had never had a disorder. She was faking them,” said Collins.
Collins says Geyser has had psychiatric issues before she was ever institutionalized and doesn’t believe she was faking anything. On top of that, she says only last year, Geyser again made a statement in therapy that has her worried.
“The session on Oct. 24th included included quote, ‘How do you think I was able to repeatedly stab my best friend and (beep)face, thought she was all the brains. I was pulling her along too. I didn’t care, I couldn’t care. I didn’t know how to care,’ end of quote,” said Collins. “The recency of it relative to conditional release. The reference to co-defendant and herself was at least a potential red flag to me.”
The defense argues Geyser is ready to be released to the community. Especially since her conditional release would happen slowly over many months, according to whatever plan is decided by the judge and the mental health institutions.
“Over that period of time if Morgan continues on the track she is on and continues doing the things here then you would say it is appropriate for her to be in the community?” asks Anthony Cotton, defense attorney.
“I anticipate or believe she will be ready for continual release in the coming months,” said Collins.
During this whole testimony, Payton Leutner’s parents have listened in over Zoom. The hearing continues tomorrow at 9 a.m.
This story was originally published by Scripps News Milwaukee, an E.W. Scripps Company.
