Suspects Morgan E. Geyser (left) and Anissa E. Weier are seen during a previous court appearance in Waukesha County courtroom. Credit: Journal Sentinel files

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Waukesha — Based on testimony from two experts, a judge on Friday found Morgan Geyser incompetent and suspended the prosecution of attempted first-degree intentional homicide charges against the 12-year-old.

The experts testified that Geyser, one of two 12-year-old girls charged with trying to fatally stab a classmate, exhibited disturbing behavior and beliefs during their interviews with her: squatting on her chair, laughing hysterically for no reason, constantly looking in corners. She had conversations with Voldemort and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and repeated her belief in Slender Man, unicorns and her own power of "Vulcan mind control."

They said Geyser, in addition to being immature, may suffer from an undiagnosed psychiatric illness.

The judge said he based his decision on those findings, and the experts' opinions that such beliefs and behavior could prevent Geyser from having a rational appreciation of her situation or effectively aiding in her own defense.

Geyser was ordered turned over to the custody of the Department of Health Services for evaluation and treatment. Both experts said she could likely be restored to competency within a year. A status report on her progress was set for Nov. 12.

The case against her co-defendant, Anissa Weier, however, will proceed. The same judge, Circuit Judge Michael Bohren, on Friday denied her attorney's request for copies of the two reports on Geyser's competency.

Assistant Public Defender Joseph Smith Jr. argued that information in the reports could be crucial at a preliminary hearing, the last chance for Smith to establish facts that will bear on his later request to have the case moved to children's court. Geyser's state of mind could explain how Weier couldn't extricate herself from the situation that led to the May 31 stabbing of a third girl, who suffered 19 wounds but survived.

Geyser's attorney, Anthony Cotton, objected to Smith's request and Bohren agreed that the reports are confidential mental health treatment records. Weier, whose attorneys have not yet raised the issue of her competence, is now set for a preliminary hearing Sept. 17.

Attorneys for both girls have said getting the cases moved to children's court is their top priority. As adults, they face up to 60 years in prison if convicted. If adjudicated as juveniles, they could be held in a secure facility until age 25.

Weier appeared at Friday's hearing wearing a black suit and magenta blouse, not the blue jail clothing she wore at previous hearings and that Geyser wore Friday. Both girls were still shackled and handcuffed.

Bohren on Friday also vacated an earlier order that Geyser undergo a more extensive psychiatric evaluation to determine whether she might have been suffering from a mental disease or defect at the time of the stabbing. He stayed the order the next week after Cotton asked him to reconsider in light of the effect it could have on Geyser's right to incriminate herself.

Assistant District Attorney Ted Szczupakiewicz suggested the exam could be done now and put under seal and only released if and when Geyser chose to pursue an insanity defense, but Bohren ruled how and when to make certain pleas is the defendant's right and he would not order the exam now.

Geyser appeared 'giddy'

The two experts who concluded Geyser is incompetent each had extensive training and experience with forensics psychology and assessing competency. Kenneth Robbins, a psychiatrist, first met with Geyser just days after her arrest. He testified that he was struck immediately by her "surprisingly bright affect. She looked almost giddy at times," despite the gravity of her situation.

He said the various fictional characters she described were very real to her.

"They're present. She can see them. They have conversations back and forth," he said.

Robbins said Geyser seemed unconcerned about prison, saying her Vulcan mind control "let her make herself feel whatever she likes."

Brooke Lundbohm, a psychologist appointed by the court, testified she met with Geyser for 21/2 hours on June 18. She said Geyser was very fidgety, squatted on her chair and repeatedly digressed into confusing discussions of fantasy characters and animals, including one about Pegasus molesting a unicorn.

Lundbohm said Geyser did mention Slender Man, a sort of child-snatching bogeyman of the Internet, whom Geyser seemed to idolize as a real entity and with whom she has a very strong bond. But she also mentioned taking direction and comment from Voldemort, the villain of the popular Harry Potter series of books and movies.

On cross-examination of both experts, prosecutors tried to suggest that Geyser had the same interest and fascination with fictional characters in the months before the crime, yet neither her family nor school officials raised any red flags about her mental health or behavior.

Lundbohm agreed the girl seemed to do well in school, both academically and socially, that she was considered artistic, maybe eccentric, but also helpful, loving and affectionate with no history of aggression.

The prosecutors seemed to be implying that Geyser may have been faking or exaggerating the degree of her immaturity of fantasy beliefs during the evaluations, but both experts said they saw no signs of "malingering," and that they thought it would be extremely unlikely a 12-year-old with no experience in the legal system or psychological treatment could effectively fool seasoned professionals throughout long interviews.

At one point during the testimony, Geyser seemed to lose interest, staring off at the wall, playing with her hair and letting some of it cover the left side of her face. At times during the hearing, her father wiped tears from his eyes.

Geyser and Weier are charged as adults with attempted first-degree intentional homicide in a May 31 attack on a third girl in the woods near a Waukesha park the day after all three girls had a sleepover to celebrate Geyser's birthday.

All three attended Horning Middle School in Waukesha. The victim, who has not been identified publicly, suffered 19 stab wounds but has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home.

Geyser and Weier have been held at a secure juvenile center in West Bend.

The case has drawn international attention because of the girls' ages and because they told police their motive was to gain favor with an Internet character named Slender Man, whom they believed lived in Nicolet National Forest.