In a shocking case that captivated the nation, Payton Leutner encountered a life-altering ordeal at just 12 years old, when two of her friends, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, attempted to take her life in a Waukesha, Wisconsin park. On May 31, 2014, the girls lured Leutner into the woods under the guise of playing hide-and-seek. Instead, they carried out a brutal stabbing that would leave lasting scars, both physical and emotional.
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Geyser and Weier attacked Leutner with a kitchen knife, inflicting 19 stab wounds before leaving her for dead. Astonishingly, Leutner managed to drag herself to a nearby path where a cyclist discovered her and called for help. Thanks to the quick actions of emergency responders, she was rushed to ProHealth Waukesha Memorial Hospital, where she underwent six hours of life-saving surgery.
According to Dr. John Kelemen, Leutner’s surgeon, some of the wounds were fatal. One was perilously close to her heart while another damaged her liver. “If the knife had gone the width of a human hair further, she wouldn’t have lived,” he later explained, highlighting the harrowing nature of her injuries. After ten days in the hospital and extensive physical rehabilitation, Leutner began her long journey of recovery, needing to also address the psychological impact of the attack.
The motivations behind the attack were as disturbing as the act itself. Geyser and Weier later claimed that they were compelled to kill Leutner by the fictional character known as Slender Man, a figure that they believed to be real. They considered themselves his “proxies,” operating under the delusion that committing the act would prove their loyalty to him. This shocking justification would play a significant role in the subsequent legal proceedings.
Both girls were charged as adults with serious offences, including first-degree attempted homicide. In a courtroom exchange, Geyser admitted to the horrific act, saying, “I might as well just say it. We were trying to kill her.” Ultimately, Geyser was sentenced to a maximum of 40 years in a psychiatric facility, while Weier received a 25-year sentence after pleading guilty to a lesser charge due to mental illness.
As time passed, Leutner attempted to reclaim a normal life. In a reflective interview with ABC News in late 2019, she openly discussed her experience. Despite the trauma, she expressed gratitude for the strength gained from her ordeal, stating that it provided her with clarity and direction in her life. “Just because of what she did, I have the life I have now. I really, really like it and I have a plan,” Leutner stated, indicating her resolve to pursue a career in the medical field inspired by her own experience.
As part of her recovery, Leutner kept a low profile, often sharing her thoughts and feelings privately. Emotional scars from the experience remained, as she admitted to sleeping with her mother out of fear and struggled with trusting others, even family members. Throughout her journey, her mother, Stacie Leutner, stayed by her side, supporting her daughter as she worked through the lasting effects of the attack.
Over the years, both Geyser and Weier faced their own challenges. After undergoing treatment at mental health facilities, they have had their cases monitored closely. Geyser, for instance, was granted conditional release in July 2025, but her journey remains complicated. In November 2025, she cut off her ankle monitor and briefly went missing, triggering another investigation that ended with her apprehension in Illinois. The process has raised concerns about the safety of Leutner and her family. However, spokespersons confirmed that they remained safe and were collaborating with law enforcement.
Leutner’s story is one of resilience and recovery against formidable odds. Today, she is a college student, determined to move forward from her traumatic past while continuing to benefit from the support of those around her. She remains focused on her future and her desire to lead a life free from the shadows of her past. As she seeks to contribute positively to the medical field, her journey serves as both a cautionary tale and a testament to the power of survival and hope.