By John Q. Hosedrinker 
In a significant development, Morgan Geyser, who attempted to murder a classmate in 2014 to appease the fictional Slender Man, will be released from a Wisconsin mental hospital. After a judge approved a conditional release plan, Geyser, now 22, is set to leave Winnebago Mental Health Institute, where she has been for seven years. The details of the release plan and its timeline were not shared, but the decision follows earlier rulings that Geyser had made progress in battling her mental illness. The incident involved Geyser and a friend, Anissa Weier, luring their classmate to a park and attacking her, driven by their obsession with the Slender Man character.
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The fact that a judge is OKing a release plan for a woman, Geyser, who, at the age of 12, participated in a horrific act – stabbing a classmate to please Slender Man – is certainly a lot to take in. It’s a situation that immediately sparks a complex mix of emotions and questions, ranging from disbelief and anger to a cautious hope for the future. It’s a case that’s deeply unsettling, and the details are chilling. The victim, Payton Leutner, survived an attack where she was stabbed nineteen times.
The core of the situation lies in the interplay of mental illness, the influence of a disturbing online phenomenon, and the justice system’s response. It’s clear from the case that the perpetrator, Geyser, was struggling with significant mental health issues. What complicates the situation is the fact that she was influenced by the Slender Man mythos. The whole thing is just so bizarre. The fact that this all started with a sleepover with the victim makes this whole situation that much more confusing.
The release plan itself, and the judge’s approval, is generating quite a bit of debate. The news that “state health officials argued in March that Geyser couldn’t be trusted after learning that she hadn’t told her therapists that she had read a novel about murder and black market organ sales” raises eyebrows. It begs the question of whether a stable release plan is even possible. The details of the case are definitely being considered, as well as the possibility of further harm being done to herself or others. The court has decided that Geyser is ready to be released to the custody of the health officials, under a strict and detailed plan of supervision, after being in a mental health institution for a decade.
Then there’s the whole Slender Man aspect. There’s a general consensus that the Slender Man figure, a product of internet creepypasta, doesn’t actually *demand* sacrifices in its lore. People seem to understand that the fixation on this fictional character is a symptom, not the cause, of Geyser’s issues. It’s important to remember the difference between a made-up story and real-world implications.
There’s also a strong thread of frustration with how mental health issues are handled within the system. There’s an argument that the facility’s oversight has been seriously lacking, especially when considering the fact that Geyser was reading books about murder and communicating with someone who collects murder memorabilia. The frustration is compounded by concerns about the potential for further harm if Geyser isn’t properly supported and monitored. It’s understandable why people would be concerned about the potential for this type of event to repeat itself.
The question of whether Geyser’s release should be contingent on the victim’s approval is also raised, which leads to discussions around the concept of justice. The victim’s voice is important, but basing the entire system on that seems wrong. The point of the justice system is to seek justice, and the idea of seeking justice for the victim is not necessarily the same as finding justice for the accused. It’s a delicate balance to strike, and the situation requires an approach that is focused on protecting the public while also trying to help Geyser reintegrate into society in a safe and responsible manner.
The debate about whether the focus should be on punishment or rehabilitation is central to this whole case. Is it about making the offender pay for their crimes, or is it about addressing the underlying mental health issues that contributed to the crime in the first place? The legal system in the United States is, at times, cruel, and there is a lot of debate about the role of prisons.
The fact that Geyser was just a child when this happened adds another layer of complexity to the situation. How does one assign responsibility, and what level of punishment is appropriate for a young person who, because of the circumstances, was dealing with some serious mental health issues? The whole idea is disturbing, as Geyser was able to commit this act, and the idea of seeing something like that happen again is even more so. It’s a constant reminder of how much trauma can be inflicted on the victims, and on the perpetrators. It also highlights the importance of addressing the mental health issues that may have led to the crime, in the first place.