A judge has sentenced a Wisconsin girl to the maximum 40 years in a mental hospital for stabbing a classmate in an attack aimed at pleasing a fictional horror character known as Slender Man.
Judge Michael Bohren said 15-year-old Morgan Geyser remains a risk to hurt herself or others. Bohren said even though Geyser was just 12 at the time of the crime, the case “was an attempted murder.”
Doctors who examined Geyser provided conflicting opinions about the type of institutional care she needs during the hearing.
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Dr. Brooke Lundbohm said Geyser’s mental health has improved, but that she should continue being treated at a state mental health facility. Lundbohm said Geyser is still a danger to herself and others, and had reported hearing voices as recently as September.
Two other doctors at Thursday’s sentencing hearing in Waukesha County said Geyser no longer exhibits psychotic symptoms and recommend moving her to a less restrictive facility where she can be around others her age and possibly go out with supervision.
It was a daylong hearing. Prosecutors wanted Geyser to spend the maximum 40 years in a mental hospital for stabbing Payton Leutner in suburban Milwaukee in 2014.
Geyser and Anissa Weier lured Leutner into the woods at a park and attacked her. Leutner crawled out of the woods and got help from a passing bicyclist.
Geyser pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide in October to avoid prison. Weier was sentenced to 25 years in a mental hospital in December.
Editor’s Note: This story was last updated at 4:52 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018 with the outcome of the sentencing.
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