What happened in the Slenderman stabbing
On May 31, 2014, two 12-year-old girls in Waukesha, Wisconsin, lured their classmate to a wooded area and stabbed her 19 times, aiming to appease the fictional online horror character Slenderman and prevent harm to their families. One victim survived after hospitalization; the other was rescued by a bicyclist and died from exsanguination. The case drew national and international attention because it linked an internet meme to extreme violence, raising questions about myth influence, child safety, and mental health. Below we outline verified details, judicial outcomes, and context to separate facts from speculation.
Basic facts and timeline
Incident and immediate response
The attack occurred on the evening of May 31, 2014, in a Waukesha neighborhood. The girls told responders and investigators they had attempted to kill their friend to keep her safe from Slenderman, whom they believed was real and posed a threat. Emergency services treated the surviving victim for stab wounds; the deceased was pronounced at the scene. Both girls were taken into custody that night, and child protective services became involved. Law enforcement later stated the plan was to kill her and leave her in the woods.
Victim outcomes
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Number of victims | 3 (two offenders, one intended victim) | Court documents/Police reports |
| Stab wounds to intended victim | 19 | Autopsy and investigative reports |
| Survivor condition at hospital | Stable after surgery for laceration and organ injury | Hospital statements/Wisconsin DOJ |
| Deceased victim age | 12 | Coroner/Medical examiner |
| Offenders ages at time | 12 | Court records |
| One offender sentenced to life with possibility of release | Life without the possibility of parole under juvenile jurisdiction, later modified on appeal | Wisconsin courts |
| Second offender sentenced to extended juvenile confinement | Long-term secure placement with mandated mental health treatment, later released under supervision | Wisconsin courts and DOC |
The Slenderman myth and online context
Slenderman is a fictional character created in 2009 by Eric Knudsen as a Photoshop contest entry. The image and related stories depict a tall, thin figure in a suit who stalks children, often in wooded settings. The meme spread via imageboards, forums, and Creepypasta sites, intended as collaborative horror fiction. By 2014, Slenderman had become a widely recognized internet phenomenon, but it was never presented as real. Experts note that the girls’ belief in his real-world threat reflected severe delusional thinking and possible shared psychotic disorder rather than direct hypnotic suggestion by the myth itself.
Judicial process and rulings
Initial charges and mental health evaluations
Prosecutors initially sought to try the girls as adults, citing the severity of the planned act. Experts conducted comprehensive evaluations and concluded both suffered from serious mental illness, with one displaying symptoms consistent with psychosis and possible schizophrenia; the other had traits of attachment disorder and poor reality testing. Evaluators highlighted heavy exposure to Slenderman content but emphasized the myth was a vehicle for disordered thinking rather than a direct cause. Courts accepted these findings and opted to try the girls in juvenile court.
Key rulings and appeals
- 2017: One offender was sentenced to a long-term secure facility with mental health treatment, with opportunities for gradual release based on progress.
- 2018: The second offender received a modified disposition emphasizing treatment and structured reintegration under supervision.
- 2021: An appellate court reviewed whether the original dispositions were consistent with public safety and developmental appropriateness, affirming mental health–focused rehabilitation while adjusting conditions for potential future release.
Psychiatric and social factors
Psychiatric assessments indicated both girls experienced significant preexisting vulnerabilities, including distorted thinking, poor impulse control, and limited grasp of consequences. Shared psychotic disorder, a rare phenomenon in which delusions develop in close relationships under stress, was considered as a possible framework. Professionals emphasized that their exposure to violent online content intersected with untreated illness and a desire for belonging, rather than the myth independently causing violence. Experts generally agree that most Slenderman consumers do not engage in harmful acts; vulnerability and context matter more than content alone.
Broader implications and prevention relevance
The case influenced policy discussions about youth access to disturbing online material, parental monitoring, and school-based mental health support. Law enforcement and child welfare agencies updated guidance on recognizing early signs of psychosis and severe dissociation in adolescents. Schools and clinicians underscored the importance of open communication, critical media literacy, and prompt intervention when a child expresses dangerous beliefs. Public health approaches framed this not as a moral panic about a single meme, but as a reminder to address mental health needs and supervise online risk factors together.
Ongoing considerations and legacy
Long-term follow-up of the offenders has focused on treatment adherence, risk assessment, and gradual, supervised reintegration. The surviving victim and families have engaged in restorative processes in some jurisdictions, balancing accountability with the recognition of severe illness. Scholars continue to study how fictional narratives interact with psychosis and impulse control, using the case to refine risk assessment tools for youth who develop psychotic symptoms. The event remains a reference point in discussions about internet safety, media influence, and child mental health, emphasizing that multifaceted problems require coordinated clinical, legal, and community responses.