The Prosecutors — Episode 331: The Slenderman Stabbing — Eyes Without a Face

PodcastOne | October 14, 2025
Hosts: Brett & Alice

Overview

In this haunting episode, Brett and Alice re-examine the notorious 2014 Slenderman stabbing in Waukesha, Wisconsin—a chilling true crime involving two 12-year-old girls who attempted to murder their friend, inspired by the viral horror meme of “Slenderman.” The discussion intertwines the disturbing details of the crime, the viral power of Internet horror, psychiatric and legal complexities, and the ongoing questions of justice and safety. The episode also delves into broader debates about juvenile justice, mental illness, Internet culture's influence on youth, and rehabilitation versus public safety.

Major Themes & Episode Structure

• The Power of Internet Myth: How an Internet meme (Slenderman) blurred fiction and reality for two children.
• Crime Timeline: The evolution from friendship to obsession to near-fatal violence.
• Legal and Psychiatric Dilemmas: Trying children as adults; competence vs. insanity; the role of mental illness in crime.
• Aftermath & Ongoing Risk: Rehabilitation, release, and public safety concerns.
• Philosophical Reflection: The cost of different approaches to justice in extreme cases.

Key Discussion Points & Timeline

Introduction: Horror in the Mind (00:43 – 02:48)

• Brett introduces the episode as a case about “the power of ideas to influence people”—not just a visceral crime, but a story about the disturbing capabilities of the human mind and vulnerability of innocence.
• Harrowing quote read by Brett (from Slenderman mythos):

  “We didn’t want to go. We didn’t want to kill them. But his persistent silence and outstretched arms horrified and comforted us at the same time.” (00:46)

The Friendship & Descent (03:29 – 07:25)

• Peyton "Bella" Lautner befriends Morgan Geyser, who struggles with social anxiety.
• Anissa Weier joins their circle; Morgan and Anissa bond over Slenderman obsession.
• The horror meme is described as an "unnaturally tall, thin, spectral figure"—originally an Internet contest submission, not old folklore.
• Morgan’s obsession intensifies; she tells Anissa Slenderman commands them to kill Peyton, or else their families will die.

Internet Myth Becomes Reality (09:43 – 13:39)

• Slenderman's origins: Created in 2009 by Eric Knudsen as a creepypasta meme, it quickly mutated into an Internet urban legend, inspiring countless stories, videos, and even a movie.
• Brett marvels at the “genius” and subtlety of the original Slenderman photographs:

  “You see what everybody else is doing and then you see this... It is so awesome... You can tell why this grabbed hold of people in this era of the Internet and just didn’t let go.” (11:14)

The Planning of the Crime (14:01 – 20:42)

• Anissa introduces Slenderman to Morgan. Over months, the fantasy grows until murdering Peyton is seen as a way to become Slenderman’s “proxies.”
• The girls methodically plan Peyton’s murder for Morgan’s birthday sleepover, with the illogical but chilling goal to gain Slenderman’s protection and live with him in the Wisconsin woods.

Botched Attempts & The Stabbing (20:42 – 27:40)

• First plan: Kill Peyton at 2am during the sleepover—abandoned.
• Second plan: Kill her in the park bathroom—multiple failed attempts as each hesitates.
• Final plan: Lure Peyton into the woods under the guise of hide-and-seek. Morgan whispers, “I’m so sorry” (25:07), then stabs Peyton 19 times, encouraged by Anissa: “Go ballistic. Go crazy.” (25:18)
• Peyton's plea:

  “I hate you. I trusted you.” — Peyton, after being stabbed (26:50)

Miraculous Survival & Arrest (27:40 – 35:29)

• Bleeding heavily, Peyton crawls to a grassy area where cyclist Greg Steinberg finds her.

  “Can you help me please? ... been stabbed.” — Peyton's words to her rescuer (28:45)

• Emergency surgery saves her; if a wound had been a hair’s width deeper, she would have died.
• Police quickly arrest Morgan and Anissa, who are still carrying the knife, as they search for the imagined Slenderman mansion.

The Legal Journey: Sanity, Competency, Juveniles (35:29 – 54:12)

• Immediate charges: Attempted first-degree intentional homicide, tried as adults.
• Mental health evaluations reveal Morgan’s schizophrenia (her father also had the diagnosis).
• Discussion of legal concepts:
  • Competency: Ability to understand proceedings and assist defense.
  • Insanity Defense: Mental state at the time of the crime.
  • Trying children as adults: High-stakes debate.
• Defense seeks to argue “kill or be killed” duress (Slenderman would kill their families).
• Legal maneuvers to move case to juvenile court are rejected.
• Outcomes:
  • Anissa found not guilty by reason of mental disease (10 of 12 jurors).
  • Both ultimately committed to mental health institutions—Anissa for up to 25 years (at least 3 under supervision), Morgan for up to 40 years.

Quote (on the system’s imperfections):

“Nothing worth anything is costless. That includes the way you look at the justice system... How you deal with these two 12-year-olds is going to have a cost. And the question is, which cost are you willing to accept?” — Brett (45:51)

Rehabilitation, Release—and Public Fear (54:12 – 63:48)

• Anissa released in 2021 at age 19, monitored with GPS and case management until age 37. Alice cautions about the limits of supervision.
• Morgan’s release debated and delayed due to community/family safety concerns; both the timing and her location are kept secret.
• Court weighs “are you a danger or not?” as the main criterion for release.
• Reflection on comparable British cases, and concerns that some high-profile offenders have reoffended post-release.

Quote (on the lasting trauma & hope):

“The one good thing that came from this case is that Peyton lived. She shouldn't have lived. And by the grace of God alone, she’s alive. I can't imagine what she is dealing with... But life is precious, and I’m glad that she was able to keep hers.” — Alice (63:48)

Broader Implications (64:18 – 92:00)

• The Slenderman phenomenon as a case study of how online culture—and especially Internet horror—can fuel obsession, delusion, and real-world violence.
• Parental anxiety in the digital age: “Parenting is hard... now throw in this kind of stuff and it's just impossible, it feels like.” — Alice (70:10)
• The realities and costs of handling youth violence, trauma, mental illness, and criminal responsibility with existing legal systems.
• Ongoing influence of violent content and the potential for similar tragedies as children have unfiltered access to digital media.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Slenderman’s power:

  “This created horror figure, they have more power than any one person would have in reality. So does that make Slenderman more real than a real person?” — Alice (03:29)

• About mental health:

  “Morgan had some real mental issues... She was schizophrenic. It was one of those things that I don’t think people really knew at the time.” — Brett (08:10)

• On the Creepypasta's genius:

  “It is the birth of something that we see throughout the Internet through horror, through Creepypasta today, where people attempt to take a very real world situation and just tweak it just a little bit, just enough to make it creepy...” — Brett (11:14)

• On the justice system’s limitations:

  “The legal system is an imperfect attempt by flawed people to deal with incredibly complex situations and it tends to fail at the extremes. This is an extreme.” — Brett (50:57)

• On rehabilitation and secrecy:

  “We don’t know whether Morgan could be living next door to you right now. We don’t know that because it was all sealed in order to protect her as she is transitioning back into society.” — Brett (59:39)

• Alice’s closing sentiment:

  “Life is precious, and I’m glad that [Peyton] was able to keep hers.” — Alice (63:48)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:43 — Opening/case introduction
• 03:29 — Peyton and Morgan’s early friendship
• 09:43 — Slenderman’s real Internet origins
• 14:01 — Slenderman obsession and crime planning
• 20:42 — The failed bathroom attack
• 25:18 — Hide and seek; stabbing execution
• 27:40 — Peyton’s escape, rescue, and aftermath
• 35:29 — Legal proceedings, psychiatric diagnoses
• 43:32 — Insanity pleas, court procedural details
• 50:36 — Sentencing and mental health commitments
• 54:12 — Releases, secrecy, and public controversy
• 63:48 — Closing remarks on survival and trauma

Tone and Style

Brett and Alice maintain a deeply empathetic, occasionally wry but always respectful tone. The narrative is vivid, introspective, and laden with legal and ethical nuance. They frequently use direct quotes, express authentic reactions to horror and trauma, and reflect openly on their own limitations as lawyers, parents, and members of society faced with unsolvable dilemmas.

Final Thoughts

• The Slenderman stabbing stands as a harrowing testament to the intersection of Internet culture and fragile minds.
• The legal, moral, and psychological lessons linger: how do we protect the innocent, treat the ill, and safeguard community in the digital era?
• The episode underscores that some tragedies resist tidy resolution—one must choose between imperfect options and accept that everything, especially justice, comes at a cost.

For further information, listeners are encouraged to watch HBO's "Beware the Slenderman" documentary and review available resources on juvenile justice, mental health, and Internet culture.