'Slender Man' attacker Morgan Geyser taken into custody in Illinois after leaving group home
Updated: Nov. 24, 2025
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- In a case that received national attention back in 2014, Morgan Geyser stabbed her classmate, Peyton Leutner, 19 times at David's Park in Waukesha. She was originally sentenced to 40 years in a mental health institution. Geyser filed multiple petitions for release and a Waukesha County circuit judge allowed for it earlier this year.
Sunday, Nov. 23, officials say Geyser cut off her GPS monitoring bracelet.
According to the Posen Police Department in Posen, Illinois, Geyser was found with a person behind the building of a Thornton's truck stop in the south Chicago suburb.
The Thornton's gas station where Posen police officers found Geyser is less than a mile away from the town's police station.
Video from Monday morning shows Geyser being escorted out of the Posen Police Department.
Chief William Alexander told CBS 58 Geyser was found after officers were called for a report of two people sleeping outside the gas station.
"Our officers arrived and noticed several bags strewn about on the ground around them with clothes in them, like they had been traveling," Alexander said.
"She gave a name and told the officer he could just simply Google her and find out who she is," Alexander said. "The officer did so, and that's when we realized that she was wanted for escape out of Wisconsin."
Court documents identify the person with Geyser as 43-year-old Chad Mecca of Janesville.
"Initially, they were reluctant to give any type of identification. Then they subsequently gave them a false name," said Posen Police Department Chief William Alexander.
Police arrested both Geyser and Mecca.
Mecca was charged in Illinois for obstructing identification and released from custody, pending a court date.
Mecca told CBS Chicago reporters that they are best friends with Geyser and did not want Geyser to travel alone.
Alexander said officers found a bus ticket from Madison in Geyser's belongings.
"It was my understanding that they were out of money, and this is where they ended up," he explained.
Morgan Geyser in police custody in Posen, Illinois
According to the Madison Police Department, it took nearly 10 hours before they were notified about the situation.
It took two hours from when Geyser's GPS monitor malfunctioned for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) to get in contact with the group home in Madison.
CBS 58 asked Madison Police Chief John Patterson about the timeline.
CBS 58's Kathryn Merck: “Did you feel as though there was too much time going on there?”
Chief Patterson: “The time was not ideal. We’ll take a look at it; we’ll work with DOC to figure out how do we improve on the next go around. The important thing is, I think, is that we were collaborating well when the time came, but the timing could certainly get better on the next one.”
The Waukesha County District Attorney's Office said it will be up to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to petition to revoke Geyser's conditional release.
"We fully support it," said Waukesha County District Attorney Lesli Boese. "We support that she should be in custody. Not only should she have been in custody since 2014 forward, but also Attorney Nikolie argued vehemently for her not to be released to conditional release in, I believe it was January of this year.”
Geyser spent the night at the Posen police station and was transferred Monday to the Cook County Municipal Courthouse in Markham, Illinois.
Chief Alexander praised his officers for their diligence.
"If you see something, say something," he said. "Suspicious subject that's standing outside of a gas station, as simple as this. Look who it ended up being."
The chief said Geyser met with a judge at the municipal courthouse Monday.
She will soon be transported to Cook County's Criminal Courthouse in Chicago, with an extradition hearing expected on Tuesday.
Updated: Nov. 23, 2025
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- At 10:32 p.m. Sunday night, Nov. 23, the Madison Police Department got confirmation that Morgan Geyser was taken into custody in Posen, Illinois -- in Chicago's south suburbs.
Posen police tell CBS 58 that Geyser was found at a Thornton's truck stop with another person. The two were sleeping on the sidewalk.
Geyser reportedly refused to provide her real name, later telling officers that she did not want to reveal her name because she had "done something really bad," telling officers to "just Google" her name.
Police say Geyser is in custody, but the man has since been released.
Published: Nov. 23, 2025
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Madison police say Morgan Geyser, the 23-year-old who was granted a conditional release to a group home in connection to the Slender Man case, is now missing.
In a Facebook post, police say Geyser cut off her Department of Corrections monitoring bracelet and left a group home on Saturday, Nov. 22nd.
She was last seen in the area of Kroncke Dr., around 8 p.m. with an adult acquaintance.
A recent image of Geyser, captured on security video from this past month, is shown below.
Madison police say if you see Geyser, call 911.
Morgan Geyser, along with a friend, stabbed their classmate, Payton Leutner, 19 times in Davids Parks in 2014 when they were 12 years old. All in an effort to appease the fictional character Slenderman.
Geyser was originally sentenced to 40 years in a mental health institution before she was granted her conditional release by a Waukesha County judge back in March.
Geyser's Attorney, Tony Cotton, posted a video to social media calling for Geyser to turn herself in.
"It's in her best interest to turn herself in immediately and not continue with this course of action," said Cotton in the video. "We don't know any of the facts about what happened and who might've assisted her, but certainly if there is somebody who has assisted her that person will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
He continued, "If anybody has contact with Morgan, hears from her, or if Morgan happens to see this - turn yourself in. Do not continue to remain on the run like this, it is not in your best interest to handle this matter in that way."
"Payton Leutner and her family of aware of the most recent situation regarding Morgan Geyser. Payton and her family are safe and are working closely with local law enforcement to ensure their continued safety," said Steve Lyons, a spokesperson for the Leutner family. "The family would like to thank all of the law enforcement entities involved in the efforts to apprehend Morgan. The Leutner family also wish to thank the outpouring of support from family, friends, and well-wishers who have contacted them during this difficult time."