The Slender Man stabbings refer to a horrific incident that took place in 2014 involving Anissa Weier, Payton Leutner, and Morgan Geyser, three 12-year-old friends from Waukesha, Wisconsin. What started as a seemingly innocent friendship took a dark turn as Geyser and Weier became obsessed with the online legend of Slender Man, a fictional character known for its creepy stories and internet memes.
Morgan Geyser, one of the girls involved, showed signs of a lack of compassion from a young age. Her family was surprised by her unemotional reaction when watching the movie "Bambi." Despite this, she didn't initially display any violent tendencies. Payton Leutner, who was drawn to Geyser for being quiet and artistic, became her best friend in the fourth grade. However, their friendship deteriorated when Geyser befriended Anissa Weier in the sixth grade, who shared her obsession with Slender Man.
The two girls began planning Leutner's murder secretly, even discussing it in public using code terms. They believed that by killing Leutner, they could please Slender Man and become his "proxies," avoiding harm to their families. They meticulously planned the murder during what was supposed to be a harmless slumber party for Geyser's 12th birthday.
Their initial plan involved duct-taping Leutner's mouth and stabbing her in the neck, but they changed their minds due to exhaustion. Instead, they lured Leutner into the woods, where Geyser unexpectedly stabbed her 19 times, targeting her arms, legs, and body. Leutner was left for dead in the woods, while Geyser and Weier prepared to search for Slender Man.
Remarkably, Leutner managed to crawl out of the woods and seek help from a passing cyclist. She survived her injuries but had to endure a long and challenging recovery. Meanwhile, Geyser and Weier were apprehended by the police near the I-94 expressway, where they immediately confessed to their crime.
The question of who planned the attack became a matter of contention. Although both girls gave conflicting accounts, the police eventually believed that Morgan Geyser was the mastermind. Evidence such as mutilated dolls and Slender Man sketches in Geyser's bedroom, along with internet searches related to murder, supported their case.
Anissa Weier entered a guilty plea to a lesser charge and was acquitted on account of a mental illness or defect. She was sentenced to 25 years in a mental hospital but was conditionally released in 2021. Her release came with various restrictions, including living with her father and limited internet access.
Morgan Geyser, on the other hand, was also found not guilty due to a mental illness or defect but received a 40-year prison sentence at the Winnebago Mental Health Institute in Wisconsin. She remains there at the time of this summary, and it's expected that she will stay for an extended period.
During her sentencing, Geyser expressed regret for her actions, stating that she never intended for the attack to happen. In contrast, Payton Leutner has shown resilience and optimism, discussing her plans to attend college in a 2019 interview.
The Slender Man stabbings serve as a chilling reminder of the impact of online myths and the devastating consequences they can have on impressionable minds. The case also raises important questions about the treatment and legal consequences for minors who commit such heinous acts due to mental illness or external influences.
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