Morgan Geyser, one of the central figures in the 2014 Slender Man stabbing case, has been located and taken into custody after fleeing a court-ordered group home in Wisconsin. The Madison Police Department (MPD) confirmed late Sunday that the 22-year-old was apprehended in Posen, Illinois, hours after she was reported missing.
“On Nov. 23, at approximately 10:34 p.m., the MPD received confirmation that Morgan Geyser was taken into custody in the state of Illinois,” authorities said in a statement shared via Facebook. “There is no longer a need to search for Morgan Geyser at this time.”
How Authorities Responded To Geyser’s Disappearance
According to MPD and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC), Geyser was last seen on Saturday, November 22, around 8 p.m. local time in the area of Kroncke Dr. with an adult acquaintance. Police say she cut off her court-mandated monitoring bracelet before leaving her group home.
The DOC initially received an alert at approximately 9:30 p.m. that Geyser’s GPS monitoring device was “malfunctioning.” Staff at the residence later informed the department that Geyser had removed the bracelet prior to departing the home, prompting law enforcement to initiate a missing person alert.
MPD said it was notified of Geyser’s disappearance on Sunday, November 23, and moved quickly to publicize the case. Hours later, police confirmed she had been taken into custody in Illinois, ending the search across state lines. Additional details about her transport or immediate next steps were not released at the time of MPD’s confirmation.
Why Geyser Was Living In A Group Home
Geyser has been under court supervision since the high-profile 2014 attack that drew national attention to the online urban legend Slender Man. She was initially placed at the Winnebago Mental Health Institute following the case’s resolution and, per Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services, was transferred to a group home earlier in 2025 as part of a supervised release plan.
A judge ordered Geyser’s release from the Winnebago facility in March, with conditions that included wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet and complying with the terms of her community-based placement. The monitoring device was part of those court-ordered conditions designed to ensure ongoing oversight during her transition out of a secure psychiatric setting.
Sunday’s apprehension followed a multi-agency effort involving local authorities and the DOC after the device was reportedly removed. MPD’s confirmation from Illinois ended a brief but heightened search.
The 2014 Slender Man Case, Revisited
In 2014, then-12-year-old Geyser and classmate Anissa Weier lured peer Payton Leutner into the woods during a game of hide-and-seek. Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times while Weier encouraged the attack. Leutner survived after crawling to a nearby bike path, where a passerby found her and called for help.
Both Geyser and Weier admitted to their roles and told investigators they believed the fictional Slender Man—an internet-born character created in 2009—was real. They said they carried out the stabbing in an attempt to appease him. The case became a national flashpoint for conversations about online folklore, mental health, and juvenile crime.
Charged with first-degree intentional homicide and tried as adults, both were ultimately found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Instead of prison, they were committed to psychiatric institutions, with courts overseeing their treatment plans and any subsequent supervised release into the community.
Slender Man’s Pop Culture Footprint
Originating as a creepypasta image-and-text meme in 2009, Slender Man quickly evolved into a widely shared internet myth inspiring fan fiction, web videos, and mainstream adaptations. The character’s eerie, faceless silhouette and lore about stalking children helped cement its place in modern horror culture, culminating in documentaries and a 2018 feature film that examined the character’s cultural resonance—and the real-world conversations it sparked after the 2014 case.
While the Slender Man phenomenon’s online spread provided a lens for understanding how digital folklore can blur lines between fiction and belief, the Wisconsin case underscored the importance of mental health evaluation and intervention in the justice system—especially for juveniles.
What Officials Have Said So Far
Authorities have not provided additional details about the circumstances of Geyser’s apprehension in Illinois beyond confirming the time and location of custody. It also remains to be announced how her supervised release status may be affected following her removal of the GPS monitor and departure from the group home.
For now, MPD’s confirmation ends the search that began over the weekend and places Geyser back under direct supervision as officials determine next steps. ABC News first reported the update, citing MPD’s statement and background information provided by state agencies.
As this case continues to evolve within the justice and health services systems that have overseen Geyser since 2014, the public updates from MPD and the DOC remain the key sources for confirmed information. Screen Rant will continue to follow official statements on any changes to Geyser’s placement or conditions.
