When a Myth Becomes a Command: Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier

About this episode

This episode explores the chilling case of Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, who attempted to murder their friend as a sacrifice to the fictional character Slender Man.

In 2014, the quiet suburb of Waukesha, Wisconsin, was shattered by a crime that defied logic. Two 12-year-old girls lured their best friend into the woods for a birthday game of hide-and-seek only to leave her for dead as a "sacrifice" to a fictional internet character known as Slender Man. In Episode 96, Brittany Ransom dives deep into the haunting psychology behind Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier . We trace the trail from the dark corners of Creepypasta forums to the chilling police interrogation rooms where the truth finally caught up. In this episode, Brittany examines: The "Folie à Deux": How a shared delusion turned two vulnerable children into attempted killers. The Architecture of a Myth: Why the Slender Man resonated so deeply with a generation raised online. The Miracle of Resilience: The incredible survival and recovery of Payton "Bella" Leutner , who crawled out of the woods to tell her story. Justice vs. Treatment: The controversial legal battle over early-onset Schizophrenia and the girls' journey through the mental health system. Was this tragedy preventable, or was it a "perfect storm" of mental illness and digital isolation…

People in this episode

Host: Brittany Ransom

Topics covered

• psychology of crime
• youth violence
• internet myths
• mental health
• legal battles
• survival stories

Keywords

• Morgan Geyser
• Anissa Weier
• Slender Man
• Waukesha
• Creepypasta
• youth crime
• mental health
• survival
• legal issues

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Creepypasta

Books & works: Slender Man

Places: Waukesha, Wisconsin

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