Officials: Facebook comments no risk to Slender Man verdict
Person said they knew outcome
A Facebook comment made on the live stream of jury deliberations in the Slender Man stabbing case was a benign bluff and was not based on any breach of the sequestration order, officials announced Friday.
As the jury deciding the insanity defense of Anissa Weier tried to get its verdict straight late on the evening of Sept. 15, WISNTV (Channel 12) live streamed the court hearings on its Facebook page.
A person identified as “Danny Black” was engaging other users during the online discussion of the proceedings. He said he knew a juror and confidently predicted the outcome — that the jury would find Weier, 15, not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
On Monday, a radio talk show host questioned whether the comments might lead to a mistrial, which led Waukesha County District Attorney Sue Opper to direct an investigator to look into the matter.
Friday, Opper released a statement that “there is no basis to conclude there was any improper communication with a member of the jury,” and that verdict was just and fair. “The Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office will take no further action.”
Black’s attorney, Julius Kim, said his client doesn’t know any of the jurors, had no inside information about the deliberations and is sorry for any distress his comments caused anyone in the case.
“Perhaps this case can serve as a cautionary tale to everyone about being careful about what you post online,” Kim said.
Weier and Morgan Geyser were 12 when they carried out a plot to kill their sixth-grade classmate in May 2014 in order to appease Slender Man, an internet boogeyman the pair told police they thought would kill their families if they didn’t complete the plan.
The victim, Payton Leutner, was stabbed 19 times but survived.
Weier and Geyser were charged as adults with attempted first-degree intentional homicide. Last month, Weier pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree intentional homicide and went to trial only on the punishment phase. Three psychologists testified she suffered a shared delusion with Geyser that prevented her from conforming her behavior to the law.
Geyser, who was diagnosed with early onset schizophrenia early in the case, has also pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Her trial, which would include the guilt phase as well as a penalty phase, is scheduled for next month.