Latest news with #Waukesha
The Guardian
18-07-2025
- The Guardian
Slender Man case: woman who stabbed classmate to be released from psychiatric hospital
A 22-year-old woman who stabbed a classmate a decade ago believing that the act would earn her the right to be servant of Slender Man, a fictional supernatural character, is set to be released from a Wisconsin psychiatric hospital. Waukesha county circuit Judge Scott Wagner agreed on Thursday to the conditional release of Morgan Geyser from Winnebago mental health institute, a psychiatric hospital where she has spent the last seven years. In 2014, Geyser and Anissa Weier lured their friend Payton Leutner to join a game of hide-and-seek in heavily wooded Davids Park near Waukesha, Wisconsin. Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times, nearly killing her, while Weier egged her on. All three girls were 12 years old at the time. Geyser and Weier later told investigators they had committed the crime to appease Slender Man, a thin, unnaturally tall humanoid character that originated as a creepypasta internet meme created by a Something Awful forum user, Eric Knudsen, in 2009. Five hours after the attack, Weier and Geyser were arrested in a nearby furniture store, still in possession of the knife used in the stabbing, and told police they were going to meet Slender Man at Slender Mansion in a forest 200 miles away. Geyser later disclosed lifelong visual and auditory hallucinations that included figures she interpreted as ghosts, colors melting down walls, and imaginary friends. Her mother described her as being 'floridly psychotic' and she was later diagnosed with early onset childhood schizophrenia. Geyser ultimately pleaded guilty to being a party to attempted first-degree intentional homicide in 2017 but claimed she wasn't responsible because she was mentally ill. She was later committed to a psychiatric hospital for 40 years. Weier pleaded guilty to being a party to attempted second-degree intentional homicide with a dangerous weapon. Like Geyser, she claimed she was mentally ill and not responsible for her actions. She was committed to 25 years in a mental hospital but was granted release in 2021. The case drew widespread attention, in part because the character Slender Man had been photo-edited into everyday images of children at play, creating a disturbing juxtaposition of childhood innocence and the transition to a more complex, adult understanding of reality. Subsequent efforts to secure Geyer's release from the psychiatric home have taken several turns. Earlier this year, a judge ruled she could be released after three experts testified she has made progress and argued that she did not present a future risk. But in March, Payton Leutner, the mother of the victim, said the group home that Geyser was to be released to was eight miles away from where she lives. Wisconsin health officials were ordered to come up with a new plan. State health officials also argued that she didn't volunteer to her therapy team that she had read Rent Boy, a novel about murder and selling organs on the black market, and alleged she had communicated with a man who collects murder memorabilia. 'The state has real concerns these things are, frankly, just red flags at this point,' said Abbey Nickolie, the Waukesha county prosecutor, at the hearing. But Geyser's attorney Tony Cotton described the state's request to keep her in hospital as a 'hit job' and said his client was 'not more dangerous today'. But Thursday, the plan to release Geyser, which has not been made public, was approved. Geyser's attorney, who did not respond to requests for comment, told the court that his client needs to be involved in the community and needs to 'move on with her life', reported TMJ-TV Milwaukee.
The Guardian
17-07-2025
- The Guardian
Slender Man case: woman who stabbed classmate to be released from psychiatric hospital
A 22-year-old woman who stabbed a classmate a decade ago believing that the act would earn her the right to be servant of Slender Man, a fictional supernatural character, is set to released from a Wisconsin psychiatric hospital. Waukesha county circuit Judge Scott Wagner agreed on Thursday to the conditional release of Morgan Geyser from Winnebago mental health institute, a psychiatric hospital where she has spent the last seven years. In 2014, Geyser and Anissa Weier lured their friend Payton Leutner to join a game of hide-and-seek in heavily wooded Davids Park near Waukesha, Wisconsin. Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times, nearly killing her, while Weier egged her on. All three girls were 12 years old at the time. Geyser and Weier later told investigators they had committed the crime to appease Slender Man, a thin, unnaturally tall humanoid character that originated as a creepypasta internet meme created by Something Awful forum user Eric Knudsen in 2009. Five hours after the attack, Weier and Geyser were arrested in a nearby furniture store, still in possession of the knife used in the stabbing, and told police they were going to meet Slender Man at Slender Mansion in a forest 200 miles away. Geyser later disclosed lifelong visual and auditory hallucinations that included figures she interpreted as ghosts, colors melting down walls, and imaginary friends. Her mother described her as being 'floridly psychotic' and she was later diagnosed with early onset childhood schizophrenia. Geyser ultimately pleaded guilty to being a party to attempted first-degree intentional homicide in 2017 but claimed she wasn't responsible because she was mentally ill. She was later committed to a psychiatric hospital for 40 years. Weier pleaded guilty to being a party to attempted second-degree intentional homicide with a dangerous weapon. Like Geyser, she claimed she was mentally ill and not responsible for her actions. She was committed to 25 years in a mental hospital but was granted release in 2021. The case drew widespread attention, in part because the character Slender Man had been photo-edited into everyday images of children at play, creating a disturbing juxtaposition of childhood innocence and the transition to a more complex, adult understanding of reality. Subsequent efforts to secure Geyer's release from the psychiatric home have taken several turns. Earlier this year, a judge ruled she could be released after three experts testified she has made progress and argued that she did not present a future risk. But in March, Payton Leutner, the mother of the victim, said the group home that Geyser was to be released to was eight miles away from where she lives. Wisconsin health officials were ordered to come up with a new plan. State health officials also argued that she didn't volunteer to her therapy team that she had read Rent Boy, a novel about murder and selling organs on the black market, and alleged she had communicated with a man who collects murder memorabilia. 'The state has real concerns these things are, frankly, just red flags at this point,' said Abbey Nickolie, the Waukesha county prosecutor, at the hearing. But Geyser's attorney Tony Cotton described the state's request to keep her in hospital as a 'hit job' and said his client was 'not more dangerous today'. But Thursday, the plan to release Geyser, which has not been made public, was approved. Geyser's attorney, who did not respond to requests for comment, told the court that his client needs to be involved in the community and needs to 'move on with her life', reported TMJ-TV Milwaukee.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Get your fair face on': 10 bucket list attractions at the 2025 Waukesha County Fair
Wisconsin's oldest county fair is back, bringing everything from animals to live music, rides, games, food and more to the Waukesha County Fairgrounds July 16-20. "Get your fair face on" is the theme of the 183rd annual nonprofit fair, celebrating the wide range of experiences and emotions attendees encounter at the fair. This applies to appreciating the livestock exhibits, to rocking out to live music on the main stage and everything in between, Chrissy Gluege, the fair's executive director, said. Gluege volunteered to park cars at the Waukesha County Fair 25 years ago, and for the past 10 years, she has worked in her position overseeing the Fair Board. To stay true to the fair's long-standing tradition in the community, which dates back to 1842, the board works to continue connecting the community to its agricultural roots ― a key part of its origin, even through all the modern fair aspects offered, Gluege said. Here are 10 bucket list items to check out at the 2025 Waukesha County Fair: 3-2-1 You're In On The Fun Admission Special All day on Wednesday, July 15, the first day of the fair, a "3-2-1 You're in On the Fun" by Pick 'n Save and Metro Market admission special will take place. Anyone who comes to the fair on July 15 is eligible for $3 admission, $2 parking, and all rides are one price ($3), compared to the typical entry ticket of $14. Other admission specials can be found on the Waukesha County Fair website. Pleasure Valley pig, goat and duck races Each day of the fair, attendees can cheer on pigs, goats and ducks as they run, or waddle, around the track to determine a winner. Plus, there will be gift card giveaways at every race. Free with admission, catch a race Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. On Sunday, July 20, races will take place at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Fearless Flores Thrill Show From the "America's Got Talent" stage to the Waukesha County Fairgrounds, the youngest female stunt riders in the United States are set to put on their thrill show multiple times a day every day of the fair. Known for winning the notorious "Golden Buzzer," the girls will take to the sky, over 65 feet high, to display balance on a sway pole. And while at that height, they will show off acrobatic artistry. Plus, this thrill show includes dance, flips, tricks, and to close the show, a motorcycle trick ride inside a 14-foot diameter sphere. Free with admission, performances will take place on Wednesday and Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday's shows are scheduled for 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, the girls will perform at 3:30 p.m., 5:50 p.m. and 7 p.m. All-you-can-eat pancake breakfast From 7 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 19, the 46th annual all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast will be put on by The Kiwanis Club of Waukesha. Here, attendees can help themselves to a hearty helping of pancakes, sausages, coffee and juice. The pre-purchase of a $10 ticket, $7 for kids, includes admission and parking for the day. Tickets are for sale on the Waukesha County Fair website. AgVenture Area A free with admission, agricultural-themed play land will be located north of the Forum Marketplace and Shops daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. A farm tent with baby goats, a llama, pigs, piglets, sheep and other animals will be present. Brant The FireGuy Guinness World Record-holding fire performer, Brant The FireGuy, will be roaming day and night around the fairgrounds, ready to set it ablaze with his performances at a moment's notice. The FireGuy blends stunts like fire eating and juggling, all while riding a motorized skateboard, with a comedic twist. He has been lighting up stages worldwide with his performances for over two decades, and the shows are free with admission to the fair. The Fairest Wheel Take a look at the view of the fairgrounds from the top of the 110-foot fairest wheel, lit up with over 20,000 lights. North American Entertainment will again put together an experience of rides, games and food, as it has for the past two decades. Many rides will be available for small children as well as games of skill or chance for all ages. Miller Lite Main Stage acts All of the shows on the Miller Lite Main Stage are free with admission to the fair. A limited number of VIP and Elite VIP tickets are available to purchase for each show to sit closer to the front, while supplies last. 2025 Miller Lite Main Stage Acts: Justin Moore: Thursday, July 17 at 8 p.m. Ted Nugent: Friday, July 18 at 8 p.m. Night Ranger: Saturday, July 19 at 8 p.m. Live music performances will also take place on the Coors Lite and Leinie Lodge stages featuring artists like Glam Band, Bella Cain, Ten Feet Tall, Kings of Radio, Four On The Floor, Chasin' Mason, Ryan McIntyre, Judson Brown Band and more. Junior Livestock Auction The Junior Livestock Auction is the finale of a yearlong project for 4-H and FFA members. Members have selected, fed and groomed animals like steers, lambs, poultry, rabbits, goats or pigs as a learning and business opportunity. The livestock are then brought to the fair to be judged, graded and sold. The Junior Livestock Auction will take place on Friday, July 18, according to the following schedule: Auction Reception at 4-5:15 p.m. Buyer Registration in Insight FS Livestock Coliseum 4 to 5:15 p.m. Junior Auction starts at 5:30 p.m. Welcome & Introductions at 5:45 p.m. Large Animal Auction Begins at 6:15 p.m. DJ FireGuy's Foam Party Each afternoon at the south end of the fairgrounds, Brant the FireGuy will be trading his flame torches for a fire DJ set, and a huge foam cannon to drench the crowd. At the foam party, those in attendance can expect dance anthems, party anthems and remixes. The foam being shot into the crowd from the cannon is clean, hypoallergenic foam, according to the Waukesha County Fair website. DJ FireGuy's foam party is free with admission to the fair. Liliana Fannin is a 2025 summer intern at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel covering the Milwaukee suburbs. She can be contacted at lfannin@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 10 Waukesha County Fair bucket list attractions to see, July 16-20 Solve the daily Crossword
Al Arabiya
17-07-2025
- Al Arabiya
Judge OKs release plan for woman who stabbed a classmate to please Slender Man
A judge has approved a conditional release plan for a Wisconsin woman who nearly killed her classmate years ago to please the fictional horror character Slender Man. Waukesha County Circuit Judge Scott Wagner signed off Thursday on the plan to release Morgan Geyser, now 22, from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute, a psychiatric hospital where she has spent the last seven years. In April, prosecutors objected to Geyser's original conditional release plan after the mother of the victim, Payton Leutner, expressed concern that Geyser's group home was located eight miles away from Leutner. The judge then ordered the Department of Health Services to draft a new plan, which was approved Thursday. Details of the plan were not shared in court. Geyser and her friend Anissa Weier lured Leutner to a Waukesha park after a sleepover in 2014. Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times while Weier egged her on. All three girls were 12 years old at the time. Geyser and Weier fled after the attack but were arrested as they were walking on Interstate 94. They told investigators they attacked Leutner to earn the right to be Slender Man's servants and feared he would hurt their families if they didn't follow through. They had planned to walk to Slender Man's mansion in northern Wisconsin after the attack, they said. Leutner barely survived the attack. Geyser ultimately pleaded guilty to being a party to attempted first-degree intentional homicide in 2017 but claimed she wasn't responsible because she was mentally ill. Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren committed her to a psychiatric hospital for 40 years in 2018, but the judge ruled in January she could be released after three experts testified she has made progress battling mental illness. 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. They also alleged that she had been communicating with a man who collects murder memorabilia and sent him her own sketch of a decapitated body and a postcard saying she wants to be intimate with him. Cotton countered that Geyser only read what the facility allowed and staff knew she had been communicating with the collector. He added that she stopped talking to the man in 2024 after she discovered he was selling things she sent him. Bohren concluded that Geyser wasn't trying to hide anything and ordered state health officials to continue developing a release plan. Wagner took over Geyser's release request after Bohren retired this past April. Weier pleaded guilty to being a party to attempted second-degree intentional homicide with a dangerous weapon in 2017 but, like Geyser, claimed she was mentally ill and not responsible for her actions. She was committed to 25 years in a mental hospital but was granted release in 2021 after agreeing to live with her father and to wear a GPS monitor. The case has drawn widespread attention in part because of the girls' fascination with the Slender Man character. Slender Man was created online by Eric Knudson in 2009 as a mysterious specter photo-edited into everyday images of children at play. He's typically depicted as a slim, spidery figure in a black suit with a featureless white face. He has grown into a popular boogeyman and has appeared in video games, online stories, and a 2018 movie.
CTV News
17-07-2025
- CTV News
Judge OKs release plan for woman who stabbed a classmate to please Slender Man
A judge has approved a conditional release plan for a Wisconsin woman who nearly killed her classmate years ago to please the fictional horror character Slender Man. Waukesha County Circuit Judge Scott Wagner signed off Thursday on the plan to release Morgan Geyser, now 22, from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute, a psychiatric hospital where she has spent the last seven years. Geyser and her friend Anissa Weier lured Payton Leutner to a Waukesha park after a sleepover in 2014. Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times while Weier egged her on. All three girls were 12 years old at the time. Geyser and Weier fled after the attack but were arrested as they were walking on Interstate 94. They told investigators they attacked Leutner to earn the right to be Slender Man's servants and feared he would hurt their families if they didn't follow through. They had planned to walk to Slender Man's mansion in northern Wisconsin after the attack, they said. Leutner barely survived the attack. Geyser ultimately pleaded guilty to being a party to attempted first-degree intentional homicide in 2017 but claimed she wasn't responsible because she was mentally ill. Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren committed her to a psychiatric hospital for 40 years in 2018, but the judge ruled in January she could be released after three experts testified she has made progress battling mental illness. 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. They also alleged that she had been communicating with a man who collects murder memorabilia and sent him her own sketch of a decapitated body and a postcard saying she wants to be intimate with him. Cotton countered that Geyser only read what the facility allowed, and staff knew she had been communicating with the collector. He added that she stopped talking to the man in 2024 after she discovered he was selling things she sent him. Bohren concluded that Geyser wasn't trying to hide anything and ordered state health officials to continue developing a release plan. Wagner took over Geyser's release request after Bohren retired this past April. Weier pleaded guilty to being a party to attempted second-degree intentional homicide with a dangerous weapon in 2017, but like Geyser claimed she was mentally ill and not responsible for her actions. She was committed to 25 years in a mental hospital but was granted release in 2021 after agreeing to live with her father and to wear a GPS monitor. The case has drawn widespread attention in part because of the girls' fascination with the Slender Man character. Slender Man was created online by Eric Knudson in 2009 as a mysterious specter photo-edited into everyday images of children at play. He's typically depicted as a slim, spidery figure in a black suit with a featureless white face. He has grown into a popular boogeyman and has appeared in video games, online stories and a 2018 movie. Todd Richmond And Christine Fernando, The Associated Press
