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We examine one of the most disturbing crimes connected to internet folklore: the 2014 Slender Man stabbing in Waukesha, Wisconsin. What began as a fictional horror character posted on an online forum evolved into a global creepypasta phenomenon—and ultimately influenced two twelve-year-old girls to attempt to murder their friend in order to prove loyalty to the fictional entity they believed was real.
This episode explores how internet culture, childhood mental illness, and digital folklore collided in a tragedy that shocked the world. We trace the origins of the Slender Man myth, the disturbing planning behind the attack, and the extraordinary survival of victim Payton Leutner. We also examine the legal aftermath, the ongoing debate around children and online content, and the powerful story of resilience that emerged from an act of unimaginable betrayal.
Episode Highlights
- The creation of Slender Man in 2009 by Eric Knudsen (“Victor Surge”) on the Something Awful forum
- The rapid spread of Slender Man through creepypasta, online forums, and viral media
- The evolution of digital folklore and collaborative internet storytelling
- The friendship between Morgan Geyser and Payton Leutner in Waukesha, Wisconsin
- The introduction of Anissa Weier and the trio’s growing obsession with Slender Man
- Early signs of Morgan Geyser’s mental illness and fixation on the character
- The plan to become Slender Man’s “proxies” by committing murder
- The May 31, 2014 sleepover that led to the attack in David’s Park
- The brutal stabbing—19 wounds—and Payton Leutner’s miraculous survival
- Payton’s crawl out of the woods and rescue by a passing cyclist
- The arrest of Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier hours after the attack
- Court proceedings and diagnoses, including early-onset schizophrenia
- The controversial decision to try the girls as adults
- Their eventual sentencing to psychiatric institutions
- Payton’s powerful recovery and public interview about forgiveness and resilience
- The 2021 release of Anissa Weier and ongoing legal developments involving Morgan Geyser
- The broader cultural impact of the case on discussions about internet safety, mental illness, and youth media consumption
Trigger Warnings
This episode contains discussions of:
- Attempted murder
- Violence against a child
- Mental illness and psychosis
- Graphic descriptions of stabbing and physical injury
- Online content influencing vulnerable individuals
Listener discretion is strongly advised.
Notable Quote
“If the knife had gone the width of a human hair further, she wouldn’t have lived.” — Dr. John Kelemen, surgeon who treated Payton Leutner
Source Material:
News Coverage & Reporting
- Business Insider — Coverage of the Slender Man stabbing case
- CNN — Timeline and updates on Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier
- ABC News — Interviews and reporting on Payton Leutner’s recovery
- Additional reporting on the case and subsequent legal developments
Background & Cultural Context
- Research on digital folklore and internet myth-making
- Analysis of creepypasta culture and collaborative storytelling online
- Academic work on modern myth creation in digital spaces
Case Documentation
- Court proceedings and psychiatric evaluations
- Reporting on sentencing and conditional release developments
- Coverage of Morgan Geyser’s 2025 monitoring escape and recapture
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