Release decision for Morgan Geyser reignites mental health debate
Morgan Geyser, who in 2014 attempted to attack a friend to impress an Internet character, will be released from a psychiatric hospital. Judge Michael Bohren decided after reviewing psychologists' opinions.
The character served as an inspiration for movies and video games. It was him whom 12-year-old Morgan Geyser wanted to impress.
At the age of 12, she attacked her friend Peyton Leutner with a knife. Geyser is now being released from a psychiatric hospital after 9 years.
The decision was made by Judge Michael Bohren from Wisconsin, based on the opinions of three psychologists who confirmed Geyser’s progress.
Judge Bohren decided to release Geyser after assessing psychologists' evaluations. Dr Brooke Lundbohm stated that Geyser had stopped taking antidepressants and showed no symptoms that endanger society.
Dr Lundbohm also emphasized that Geyser regrets her actions. After her release, she will be supervised in a dedicated group home for two months.
In 2014, Geyser and Anissa Weier lured Leutner into the woods, where Geyser stabbed her 19 times. The purpose of the attack was to impress the fictional character Slender Man. Leutner survived, thanks to a passerby.
The crime sparked an international discussion about the impact of fictional characters on children’s mental health. Both girls were sentenced to stay in a psychiatric hospital, and the global community is considering important regulations to protect young people from the dangers of the Internet.
