On November 22nd, 2025, the small town of Posen, Illinois made headlines when Morgan Geyser, a participant in the infamous 2014 Slender Man stabbing case, was recaptured after a dramatic escape. Geyser had been missing since she cut off her monitoring bracelet and fled from a group home in Wisconsin, sparking a nationwide manhunt.
The Slender Man case is a chilling reminder of how the internet can influence real-world violence. In 2014, Geyser and her friend Aniss Weier, both 12 years old at the time, attempted to kill their classmate Payton Leutner in a wooded area in Wisconsin. The attack was motivated by the mythical character Slender Man, a character created in 2009 as part of a Photoshop contest and later expanded into an internet phenomenon.
The Slender Man case highlights the dangers of internet culture and the influence it can have on vulnerable individuals. The character, often portrayed as a tall, thin figure with a featureless face, has been the subject of numerous horror stories and urban legends. However, his influence extends beyond the digital world, as seen in the real-life attack on Leutner.
The recent events in Posen, Illinois, have brought renewed attention to the Slender Man case and the complexities it raises. Geyser, who had been granted conditional release and placed in a group home, managed to escape by cutting off her monitoring bracelet. Her recapture at an Illinois truck stop after a brief period of freedom has led to speculation about her mental state and the effectiveness of her rehabilitation. The search for Geyser and her subsequent arrest have also raised questions about the adequacy of supervision for individuals with a history of violent behavior, especially those influenced by online phenomena.
The case of Morgan Geyser and the Slender Man stabbing serves as a stark reminder of the darker side of internet culture. The incident, which involved two young girls attempting to murder their friend, has been a source of fascination and horror for many. The recapture of Geyser in Posen, Illinois, and her eventual return to a mental institution, as requested by prosecutors, underscore the ongoing challenges in managing individuals who have been influenced by such extreme online narratives.
