Table of Contents
- Who Were Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier?
- The Crime That Changed Everything
- The Complex Relationship Between Two Young Perpetrators
- Different Paths in the Justice System
- Where Are They Now?
Who Were Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier?
On May 31, 2014, two twelve-year-old girls from Waukesha, Wisconsin committed an act that would become one of the most disturbing crimes involving children in recent American history. Morgan Geyser, born in May 2002, and Anissa Weier, born in November 2001, were ordinary middle schoolers who would soon be connected to a shocking attempted murder.
What made their case particularly unusual wasn’t just their age, but the bizarre motivation behind their actions. Both girls had become obsessed with an internet urban legend known as “Slender Man”—a faceless, fictional character that developed a cult-like following online.
The Crime That Changed Everything
The two girls lured their friend, twelve-year-old Payton Leutner, into the woods of Waukesha under the pretense of a normal outing. Once isolated in the forest, Morgan Geyser stabbed Leutner multiple times while Anissa Weier watched. The attackers then left their severely injured friend bleeding in the woods.
Despite her life-threatening injuries, Payton managed to crawl out of the woods and flag down a passing cyclist. She was immediately rushed to the hospital, where she began a long road to recovery. The motive, according to the girls, was to please “Slender Man” by completing a ritual they believed would make them his proxies.
The Complex Relationship Between Two Young Perpetrators
The relationship between Geyser and Weier appears to have been one of mutual influence and shared delusion. Both girls had become deeply invested in the Slender Man mythology, spending countless hours online discussing and theorizing about the fictional character. This shared obsession likely strengthened their bond and their willingness to carry out what they viewed as a necessary act.
Weier’s role as the observer rather than the direct assailant suggests a dynamic where Geyser may have been the more dominant personality in the friendship. However, Weier’s participation—by encouraging the attack and remaining present—made her equally complicit in the crime.
Their ages were particularly significant. At twelve years old, both girls were still developing mentally and emotionally, yet the legal system treated them as adults capable of committing intentional murder.
Different Paths in the Justice System
Despite their partnership in the crime, Geyser and Weier received different charges and sentences:
- Morgan Geyser: Charged with attempted first-degree homicide (Class A felony) and pleaded guilty. She was found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect and sentenced to up to 40 years in a psychiatric institution.
- Anissa Weier: Charged with attempted second-degree homicide (Class B felony) and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. She was found not guilty by mental disease or defect and sentenced to up to 25 years in a psychiatric institution.
Both girls were waived out of juvenile court to be tried as adults, a controversial decision given their age. The difference in their sentences reflected their different roles in the attack—Geyser as the primary perpetrator and Weier as an accomplice.
Where Are They Now?
In 2021, Anissa Weier, then nineteen years old, was granted supervised release from the psychiatric institution. This decision was controversial, with many questioning whether she had truly rehabilitated or whether she posed a continued danger to society.
Morgan Geyser, however, remained institutionalized. In November 2025, she was arrested in Posen, Illinois after escaping from her group home placement. The escape reignited concerns about her mental state and her risk to the community. Prosecutors have indicated they intend to petition for the revocation of her conditional release.
The case of Geyser and Weier remains a haunting reminder of how internet influence, mental illness, and childhood development intersect in unexpected and tragic ways. Their victim, Payton Leutner, has worked to rebuild her life following the attack and has spoken publicly about her recovery journey.