Bad taste, or just an oversight? Stores selling "Slenderman" Halloween costume
WAUKESHA COUNTY (WITI) -- Is it bad taste, or just an oversight? A "Slenderman" Halloween costume is being sold in Waukesha County, and some parents aren't happy.
12-year-old Morgan Geyser, and 12-year-old Anissa Weier are charged as adults -- each facing a felony charge of first degree intentional homicide. They're accused of stabbing their friend 19 times in the woods in Waukesha -- leaving her to die. Authorities say they did it to please the fictional character, Slenderman.
Now, a Slenderman Halloween costume is being sold in the very county where this horrific crime occurred -- and you can buy one for about $40.
The stabbing incident from back in May is still fresh on the minds of many parents in Waukesha County. That's why some are surprised to learn a Slenderman Halloween costume is being sold in Waukesha County.
"It`s horrible. I can't imagine how many people would wear that," Paulette Thompson said.
"I don't think they should be sold in the stores," Jodi Didenko said.
Slenderman is a fictional online horror character. Police say Geyser and Weier wanted to please Slenderman -- and that's why they lured their friend into the woods -- stabbing her 19 times.
FOX6 News has now found Slenderman costumes in Brookfield at a Party City store, and Spirit Halloween.
"I think the stores could do a better job choosing their costumes for kids to not promote violence," Chris Sobczak said.
"I think they should pull it, especially in lieu of what`s happened," Tim Tubbs said.
Just this week in court, a Waukesha County judge ordered Weier be examined by a doctor to determine whether she's fit to stand trial. Geyser has already been found not competent to stand trial, and committed for treatment.
The victim is recovering, and has returned to school.
Some parents worry this Halloween costume could be a step backwards.
"Hopefully parents will take control of their kids and prevent them from doing this," Sobczak said.
"Just the reaction with the neighborhood and the girl's finally back in school and feeling good and I just think this would set her back," Didenko said.
FOX6 News hasn't heard back from the corporate offices for either store selling the costume.
Halloween Express says it has chosen not to sell the costume. The store has several locations throughout the Milwaukee area -- and even before the doors opened for this Halloween season, the costumes were taken off the shelves.
"We don't want customers to come in and have any sinister feel. We want to be bright and sunshiney. We want music to be playing and a happy feel," Jon Majdoch with Halloween Express said.
The court-ordered report on Weier's competency will be completed within the next month.
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