"Worried," Morgan Geyser's mom launches petition to get her daughter mental health treatment
WAUKESHA COUNTY (WITI) -- It is a case that has garnered national attention, and now FOX6 News has learned there is a petition calling for mental health treatment for Morgan Geyser, one of two girls charged in connection with the stabbing of their friend -- left for dead in the woods in Waukesha last May. Geyser and Anissa Weier are accused of stabbing the girl 19 times to please the fictional character Slenderman.
12-year-old Geyser and 12-year-old Weier each face a felony charge of first degree intentional homicide.
Court documents say Geyser talks to Slenderman, sees the Harry Potter character Voldemort and lives in a world of fantasy. In reality, Geyser and Weier are charged as adults, accused in a violent crime.
Geyser's mother has launched a petition at Change.org asking that her daughter be allowed to receive mental health treatment. More than 1,000 people have signed the petition.
The following is written about Geyser on the Change.org page:
"Our beautiful daughter Morgan is twelve years old, and has been diagnosed with childhood-onset schizophrenia. Unfortunately, her diagnosis came too late, and she is being charged as an adult for crime that occurred last May.
Morgan has spent the majority of the past 11 months in a windowless jail, where she has no access to the outdoors and is not allowed physical contact with her family. This is a situation that would be harmful to the development of any child, but especially so for a child with a serious mental illness. She has received no treatment for her brain disease since being diagnosed. This is extremely concerning, because research has shown that early treatment of schizophrenia and psychosis improves long term prognosis. We are worried that if Morgan doesn’t receive treatment soon, we will lose her to her disease.
Morgan's attorney recently filed a motion to have her bail reduced to a signature bond, on the condition that Morgan be transferred to a residential treatment center. Judge Bohren denied the motion, stating that Morgan is "a danger to the community and a flight risk." We do not believe this is true. Morgan had no history of violence prior to the incident in May, and has displayed no violent behavior since. Her actions that tragic day were a direct result of the delusions she suffers because of her schizophrenia. In reality, the longer Morgan goes without treatment, the more dangerous she becomes. Every day that passes without treatment decreases the likelihood that she will recover and have the opportunity to become a productive member of society. Morgan is just a child, and she deserves that opportunity and a second chance at life. Please sign my petition asking Judge Michael Bohren to allow Morgan to receive treatment for her mental illness."
Geyser has been living at the Washington County Juvenile Detention facility long-term, and her attorney says she is getting absolutely no treatment for her schizophrenia. Last week, an effort by her attorney to get her mental health treatment failed in court. On Friday, April 24th, a judge denied a request Geyser's bail be lowered so she could receive mental health treatment outside the juvenile facility where she has been living. The judge cited she could be a flight risk.
Geyser's attorney pointed to a treatment center called the Milwaukee Academy as a possible facility for Geyser. A spokesman for the Milwaukee Academy tells FOX6 News it is not a locked facility. Officials there haven't been contacted about the possibility of treating Geyser.
"One of the tragedies with having this case in adult court -- there really aren't the resources available for adult court defendants as there is for children," Geyser's attorney Anthony Cotton said.
In addition to the Change.org petition, there is a website called Slenderchance.com making the same plea that Geyser be allowed to receive mental health treatment. That website is raising money for Geyser's legal defense and mental health treatment. Available on the website are T-shirts and handbags being sold that feature Geyser's artwork.
Those behind that website issued a video message Tuesday, April 28th in response to questions about their efforts.
You can view the video by CLICKING HERE.