Officials give update after "Slender Man" stabber captured following escape from group home

Key Concepts

Conditional Release: A legal status where an individual is released from institutional care under specific terms and conditions, often involving monitoring and restrictions.
Petition to Revoke Conditional Release: A formal request filed with the court to terminate an individual's conditional release due to violations of its terms.
Institutionalized Care: Placement in a secure facility, such as a hospital, for individuals requiring intensive treatment or supervision.
Victim Witness Unit: A department that provides support and information to victims of crimes and their families.
Department of Health Services (DHS): The state agency responsible for the custody and management of individuals under its care, including those on conditional release.
Warrant: A legal document authorizing law enforcement to take a person into custody.
971 Commitment: Refers to a legal commitment under Wisconsin Statute Chapter 971, often related to individuals found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, or those incompetent to stand trial.

Summary of Proceedings Regarding Ms. Geyser's Escape

This summary details the actions and concerns of the District Attorney's office following the escape of Ms. Geyser from her conditional release placement. The primary focus is on the process of her apprehension, the potential revocation of her conditional release, and the notification of the victim's family.

Apprehension and Custody Transfer

Current Custody: Ms. Geyser is currently in the custody of Cook County, Illinois.
Inter-Agency Coordination: The governor's office and local authorities are coordinating to facilitate Ms. Geyser's return from Illinois to the custody of the Department of Health Services (DHS). DHS has held custody of Ms. Geyser since her court-ordered commitment.

Revocation of Conditional Release

DHS Authority: The decision to file a petition to revoke Ms. Geyser's conditional release rests solely with the Department of Health Services.
DA's Office Support: The District Attorney's office strongly supports the filing of such a petition and will fully back it in court. They believe Ms. Geyser should have remained in custody since 2014 and opposed her conditional release in January of the current year.
Legal Process: If a petition to revoke is filed, the DA's office will return to court to argue for Ms. Geyser's return to institutionalized care, rather than continued conditional release.
Statutory Requirement: The DA's office cannot file the revocation motion themselves; it must be initiated by DHS, as Ms. Geyser is under their custody.

Victim Notification Concerns

Delayed Notification: A significant concern is the delayed notification of the victim and her family regarding Ms. Geyser's escape.
DA's Office Action: The victim witness unit, led by Jen Dunn, was the first to inform the victim's family.
Verification: As of 12:20 AM/PM (time unclear from transcript), the victim's family had still not been informed by any other agency besides the DA's office.
Impact: This lack of prompt notification is considered very concerning, especially given the potential danger Ms. Geyser posed to the victim, her family, and the community. The DA's office is actively updating the victim's family.

Details of the Escape and Monitoring

Unmonitored Period: Ms. Geyser was unmonitored by any person for a period between approximately 8:00 PM on Saturday evening and her apprehension the following day. Her whereabouts were unknown during this time.
Previous Revocation Attempt: This is the second petition to revoke Ms. Geyser's conditional release. The first was filed in March.
Violation of Conditions: The escape is seen as a blatant violation of a simple condition: remaining in her placement and wearing a monitoring bracelet.
Lack of Information: The DA's office has no information about what Ms. Geyser was doing during her time on the loose.

Jurisdiction and Potential Charges

Waukesha County Warrant: A warrant was issued by a Waukesha County intake judge, forwarded by DHS, for Ms. Geyser's return.
Waukesha County Jurisdiction: As the case originated in Waukesha County, any decision regarding the revocation of her conditional release will be handled there.
Dane County Jurisdiction: Crimes committed in Dane County, such as cutting off a bracelet or escaping under a 971 commitment, fall under Dane County's jurisdiction. Law enforcement in Dane County would lead any investigation and refer charges to the Dane County DA's office.
Waukesha County Charges: The Waukesha County DA's office would only press charges if crimes occurred within their jurisdiction.

Concerns Regarding Dangerousness and Monitoring

Blatant Violations: The blatant violation of simple conditions is seen as indicative of dangerousness.
Previous Concerns: At an earlier revocation hearing, concerns were raised about individuals contacting and influencing Ms. Geyser, even while she was at Winnebago (presumably a facility).
Notoriety and External Influence: There is concern about individuals seeking out Ms. Geyser and communicating with her, potentially influencing her actions.
Acknowledgement of Monitoring: Ms. Geyser's perceived pushback regarding the extent of her monitoring was also a concern, suggesting she might not have been ready for community reintegration.
Unknown Associates: It is unknown if the person present with Ms. Geyser at the time of her arrest was one of the individuals previously of concern.

Impact on Future Conditional Release Requests

Record Review: Any future requests for conditional release will involve a review of past assessments and the entire case history, including this escape.
Likely Impact: It is highly probable that this incident will negatively impact any future requests for conditional release.

Nature of State Control and Placement

State Control: Ms. Geyser remains under the control of the state, even though she was not facing a criminal sentence in the traditional sense.
Leeway in Placement: The state has discretion regarding her placement, whether in custody, state care in a facility, or outside a facility.
Return to Institutional Care: If the petition to revoke conditional release is granted, Ms. Geyser would be returned to institutional care, such as a more secure hospital facility.

Communication and Future Improvements

DA's Office Involvement Post-Release: Once a conditional release plan is signed, the DA's office is generally not involved in the day-to-day management or communication with the placement facility. This responsibility falls to DHS.
Need for Notification Mechanism: There is a strong belief that a mechanism should exist to notify victims' families in such cases. The speaker has already reached out to legislative personnel to address this issue.
Accountability: The DA's office's goal is to hold individuals accountable, which is why they advocated against granting conditional release in the first place.

Duration of Placement

Court Order: The final plan and placement for Ms. Geyser was signed on September 17th. The exact date she arrived at the facility is not specified.