Morgan Geyser's request for conditional release encountered another roadblock this week. The 22-year-old, confined to a mental health facility since 2017 for her role in the Slender Man stabbing case, appeared in a Waukesha County court today to hear the decision on her release plan. However, the plan was postponed amid concerns over its proximity to the victim's residence. As reported by FOX6 News, prosecutors and the victim's family were troubled by Geyser's prospective group home being merely eight miles from where Payton Leutner, who survived a vicious attack, now lives.
A significant oversight came to light during today's proceedings when the court learned of the nearness of the home to Leutner, prompting Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Michael O. Bohren to delay Geyser's relocation. "They made no effort to ascertain details of Peyton's daily life that would be pertinent to this planning," Stacie Leutner, the victim's mother, told the court via Zoom, according to a statement obtained by CBS58. Geyser was sentenced to spend time in the Winnebago Mental Health Institute following an incident in 2014 where she and a co-defendant stabbed a classmate to appease a fictional character. Her co-defendant was released in 2021 under different circumstances.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services, tasked with creating Geyser’s release plan, was accused by Assistant DA Ted Szczupakiewicz of not considering the victim's safety. This development has necessitated a complete amendment to the release strategy. Judge Bohren, frustrated with the apparent lapse in communication, has ordered Geyser to remain in the mental health institution for another six weeks, as per a detailed report by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Now, Geyser's case manager must draft an updated conditional release plan for review. Her return to the Winnebago Mental Health Institute is a recalibration in her journey towards reintegration, marking a tension-filled intersection of justice, rehabilitation, and community safety. During this period, the state will work on crafting a plan that takes into account all parties' concerns. Bohren expressed his frustration about not being notified of the group home's proposed location prior to the hearing, stressing an oversight by the state agencies involved. The timeline for Geyser's transition into the group home remains unclear as officials address the complexities of her case.
