Morgan Geyser To Undergo Second Mental Disease And Defect Evaluation To Determine Competency To Stand Trial

Morgan E. Geyser, Anissa E. Weier and Payton Isabella Leutner

A state forensic doctor found Geyser to be incompetent to stand trial.

By H. Nelson Goodson

July 2, 2014

Waukesha, Wisconsin - On Wednesday, Waukesha prosecutors requested a mental disease and defect evaluation after a state doctor found Morgan E. Geyser, 12, incompetent to stand trial. During a review hearing, Geyser's Attorney Antony D. Cotton agreed with the doctor's findings and asked for the evaluation to be sealed. Waukesha County prosecutor Susan L Opper challenged the state doctor's evaluation and requested another evaluation for mental disease and defect. Judge Michael O. Bohren ordered the second evaluation and set a competency hearing for August 1 and also granted Cotton's request to seal Geyser's current evaluation.

Geyser was charged with one felony count for first-degree attempted intentional homicide, party to a crime and use of a dangerous weapon for the May 31, stabbing of Payton Isabella Leutner, 12, of Waukesha. Leutner was stabbed at least 19 times by Geyser and Anissa E. Weier, 12, who planned her murder for months. Leutner was invited to a birthday slumber party by Geyser. They lured Leutner to Davids Park and committed the horrific act and then left their best friend to die as a sacrificed murder to Slenderman. Leutner crawled out of the wooded area and was found by a bicyclist who called 911. Geyser and Weier later confessed to police that they wanted Leutner dead because they were influence by Slenderman, a fictional character. Both Geyser and Weier are being tried as adults.

Weier's Attorney Joseph Smith during the Motion hearing asked to reserve the right to bring up his client's competency at a later date, if the case proceeds in adult court. Weier's next court hearing is set for August 1. Weier has been charged with one felony count for first-degree attempted intentional homicide, party to a crime and use of a dangerous weapon.

If convicted, both Geyser and Weier are facing up to 65-years in prison each and are being held each on a $500,000 cash bond at a Washington County Juvenile Secure Detention Center.

Leutner's identity was made available after her name was posted on numerous Facebook discussions about the Waukesha attempted murder case. A gofundme account to help pay for Leutner's medical expenses has raised so far, $53,716 of its $250,000 goal, since June 3.