WAUKESHA, Wis. (Scripps News Milwaukee) — A Waukesha County judge has ruled Morgan Geyser’s conditional release to be stayed pending a hearing.
The decision came nearly a month after Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Michael Bohren initially ruled to grant her conditional release to a group home, saying rehabilitation requires individuals to be involved in the community.
MORE | Judge upholds Morgan Geyser’s conditional release
Morgan Geyser appears in a Waukesha County courtroom Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Waukesha, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Geyser was originally committed to a mental health facility for 40 years after being found not guilty due to mental disease or defect for nearly stabbing her friend to death in 2014. She and Anissa Weier admitted to the attack on Payton Leutner, saying they did it to appease the fictional character Slender Man.
The latest ruling follows concerns raised by Winnebago Mental Health Institute, where Geyser has been held. The institution filed a petition with the court, citing concerns about a book she was reading and a person she was communicating with.
The book, allegedly a Stephen King novel, contained themes of sexual sadism and graphic content, according to the petition argued in court Friday.
Geyser’s defense argued in court that she is safe for release, citing the institution’s controlled access, knowledge of visitors, and ability to monitor meetings. “It feels to me like a hit job at the last minute,” her attorney said.
A motion hearing is scheduled for March 6, according to court records.
This story was originally published by Scripps News Milwaukee, an E.W. Scripps Company.
