Morgan Geyser, a key figure in the notorious 2014 Slender Man stabbing case, has been apprehended in Illinois after fleeing a group home in Wisconsin. Geyser, now 23, was found at a truck stop in Posen, Illinois, on Sunday, following her escape the previous night. Authorities reported that she had removed her electronic monitoring bracelet before leaving the facility in Madison, Wisconsin.

Escape and Capture

Geyser's escape prompted an alert from Madison police, who noted she was last seen with an adult male acquaintance. The pair were discovered sleeping on a sidewalk at the truck stop, approximately 170 miles south of Madison. Initially providing a false name, Geyser eventually admitted her identity, reportedly telling officers to "just Google" her name due to her past actions.

Background of the Case

The Slender Man stabbing case shocked the nation when Geyser and her friend, Anissa Weier, both 12 at the time, lured their classmate, Payton Leutner, to a park and stabbed her 19 times. The attack was motivated by a desire to appease Slender Man, a fictional online horror character. Leutner survived the brutal assault, which was intended to gain favor with the internet bogeyman.

Legal Proceedings and Conditional Release

Geyser pleaded guilty to first-degree intentional homicide and was sentenced to 40 years in a mental health institution in 2018. In July 2023, she was granted conditional release to a group home. Her co-defendant, Weier, was sentenced to 25 years in a psychiatric facility but was released in 2021. Both girls claimed they feared Slender Man would harm their families if they did not carry out the attack.

Public and Legal Reactions

The case drew widespread attention due to its bizarre nature and the influence of internet culture on young minds. Geyser's attorney, Tony Cotton, urged her to surrender during her brief time on the run, emphasizing the hard work that had gone into securing her conditional release.