MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Morgan Geyser, the Wisconsin woman notorious for nearly killing her classmate, is facing extradition back to her home state after fleeing a group home just weeks following her conditional release from a mental institution. Geyser, who was involved in the 2014 stabbing of Payton Leutner in an act inspired by the fictional character Slender Man, has agreed not to contest her transfer from jail in Cook County, Illinois, to Wisconsin authorities.
In a court appearance on Tuesday, Geyser’s extradition was confirmed after authorities found her and a companion sleeping outside a truck stop in Posen, Illinois, days after she cut off her GPS monitoring bracelet and left the facility. Her planned escape was motivated by fears of being separated from her friend, whom she recently met at church.
The legal journey surrounding Geyser has sparked discussion on the mental health system and the challenges of reintegration for individuals with severe mental health issues. Wisconsin authorities now have a window of 30 days to retrieve Geyser, who could return to a state hospital where she spent nearly eight years.
During the arrest, body camera footage showed Geyser visibly distressed as she and her companion attempted to convince police that they were not dangerous. Geyser’s past actions, carried out to impress Slender Man, continue to haunt her, with both Geyser and her accomplice, Anissa Weier, having been institutionalized following their crime.
Now 23, Geyser's case remains a poignant reminder of the turbulent intersection between mental health and the criminal justice system, especially as her future hangs in the balance once more.
