Inside the Disturbing 'Slender Man' Stabbings of Wisconsin
Law&Crime Network
30,035 views • 11 days ago Save 61 min 4 min read
Video Summary
Two 12-year-old girls, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, lured their friend Payton Leutner into the woods in Waukesha, Wisconsin, under the pretense of a game of hide-and-seek. There, they brutally stabbed her 19 times, an act they later claimed was to appease a fictional internet character named Slender Man. Payton miraculously survived the attack, and the girls were apprehended with the murder weapon. The case gained national attention due to the perpetrators' young age and their disturbing motive, which involved a shared obsession with online horror stories.
Both girls were charged as adults and underwent extensive psychological evaluations. Anissa Weier was found not criminally responsible due to mental disease or defect and was committed to a mental health facility. Morgan Geyser also received a lengthy commitment to a mental health institution, with her release being a complex legal and psychological process. Years later, Anissa was conditionally released, while Morgan's path to release has been more fraught, involving multiple petitions and revocations, ultimately leading to her return to institutional care.
Short Highlights
- Two 12-year-old girls, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, stabbed their friend Payton Leutner 19 times.
- The attack was motivated by a shared obsession with the fictional character Slender Man.
- Both girls were tried as adults and committed to mental health facilities.
- Anissa Weier was later conditionally released, while Morgan Geyser's release has been repeatedly denied and revoked.
Key Details
The Attack and Discovery [00:00]
A childhood game of hide-and-seek turned into a near-fatal assault when 12-year-old Payton Leutner was found stabbed multiple times in the woods of Waukesha, Wisconsin. A bicyclist discovered her crawling out of the woods, and a 911 call revealed the severity of her injuries.
Suspects Identified [00:19]
Police quickly identified the suspects as Payton's friends, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier. The girls were found hours later with a bloody knife, and during interrogations, they revealed a chilling motive rooted in their obsession with the fictional internet character, Slender Man.
The Slender Man Obsession [03:01]
Morgan and Anissa bonded over online horror stories, particularly the legend of Slender Man. They believed he was real and that they needed to prove themselves to him, leading them to believe they had to kill Payton to become his "proxies."
The Crime Unfolds [03:53]
On May 30, 2014, after a birthday sleepover, Morgan and Anissa took Payton to David's Park. They convinced her to play hide-and-seek, leading her deep into the woods where they attacked her.
Investigation and Interrogations [06:07]
Payton survived her 19 stab wounds and, upon recovery, provided details to the police. Morgan and Anissa, interviewed separately, confessed to the planned attack, detailing how they obtained the knife and carried out the stabbing.
Legal Proceedings and Mental Health Defense [19:50]
Both girls were charged with attempted homicide and tried as adults. Their defense centered on mental disease or defect, arguing they were not criminally responsible due to their delusions about Slender Man. Anissa pleaded guilty but not criminally responsible, while Morgan's case involved extensive evaluations and competency hearings.
Sentencing and Commitments [37:08]
Anissa was found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect and committed to a mental health facility. Morgan also received a lengthy commitment to a state mental health institution, with her release contingent on demonstrating she no longer posed a risk.
Paths to Release and Revocation [43:00]
Years later, Anissa was conditionally released. Morgan's journey for release was more complex, with multiple petitions filed and withdrawn, and a denial of conditional release due to ongoing risk. However, in January 2025, she was granted conditional release to a group home, only for it to be revoked months later when she absconded from her facility, leading to her return to institutional care.
