Buzz
The Slender Man began as an internet legend in 2009 on a forum, but it quickly spiraled into something far darker, eventually linked to attempted murders, suicides, and even a potential mass suicide.
While the physical existence of the Slender Man remains widely dismissed, the belief in him has caused very real consequences for some. Here are ten disturbing facts that blur the lines between the legend and reality of the Slender Man.
10. Clear and Specific Origins
What sets the Slender Man apart from many other myths is that its origin can be pinpointed to a specific moment in time. On June 10, 2009, the forum Something Awful posted two images created by user Victor Surge (real name: Eric Knudsen) as part of a challenge to create convincing 'paranormal images.'
The first photograph, taken in 1983, depicted a group of children visibly distressed and frightened. In the background, a towering, faceless figure loomed. The caption read: “We didn’t want to go, we didn’t want to kill them, but its persistent silence and outstretched arms horrified us and comforted us at the same time!” This quote was attributed to the unknown photographer, who was “presumed dead.”
The second image, dated to 1986, showed a group of children appearing much more joyful as they played in a park. Yet, the same tall, shadowy figure could be spotted in the background. The caption explained that it was “one of two recovered photographs from the Stirling City Library blaze,” revealing that the photo was taken on “the day fourteen children vanished” and even alluding to “Slender Man.” This time, the photographer was named as Mary Thomas, who had been missing since June 1986.
These two photographs not only sparked the rise of the Slender Man mythos but also quickly captured the imaginations of countless people.
9. A Legend Shaped by the People
While Knudsen originated the Slender Man, it was the community of Creepypasta followers who truly gave the legend life. As more people learned about Slender Man, they contributed their own details and stories, expanding the myth and enriching its backstory.
The Slender Man was commonly portrayed with a smooth, blank face, a thin, unnaturally tall frame, and often had tentacles extending from his back. He was frequently linked to abandoned structures, particularly those in remote or wooded areas. Some later versions of the legend even suggested that the Slender Man could teleport between locations. Enthusiasts of the myth even claimed to recognize signs that he was near, such as sudden paranoia, nosebleeds, and vivid nightmares.
Indeed, the phenomenon of the audience contributing to the evolution of the legend is our next focus. This collaborative growth can be analyzed and understood by those studying myths and folklore.
8. Witness the Evolution of a Legend
Scholars of folklore and mythology have observed the Slender Man legend as a unique case for documenting the spread and transformation of a modern myth. By examining its growth, they aim to understand how similar legends in history might have evolved. For instance, the Slender Man legend exhibits a collective development, with slight variations in detail depending on the storyteller or audience. As more stories were shared online, the myth deepened, and the backstory expanded.
The Slender Man myth swiftly developed its own life, similar to traditional myths and folklore. However, years after its creation, the legend took on a darker, more tangible reality.
7. The Slender Man Stabbing
On May 31, 2014, the Slender Man myth transitioned into a horrifying reality when its influence reached the real world in a chilling manner. That morning, two 12-year-old girls, Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser, tried to murder their friend, Payton Leutner, by stabbing her multiple times in the woods. After being left for dead, Payton managed to escape and was found by a passing cyclist.
The girls were apprehended shortly after the attack. During questioning, Weier explained that they had committed the act to satisfy the Slender Man. They also believed they knew where the Slender Man lived — an old house in the Nicolet National Forest — and were on their way there when they were arrested.
For all involved, including the victim and the attackers, the Slender Man, or the impact of his legend, felt undeniably real. Interestingly, Weier was released from a mental health facility in the summer of 2021, while Geyser remains incarcerated. Payton Leutner made a remarkable recovery from the nineteen stab wounds inflicted by her 'friends.'
6. The Copycat Cases
In the wake of the attempted murder of Payton Leutner, several copycat incidents surfaced, each with ties to the Slender Man myth. For instance, in June 2014, just weeks after the stabbing, a 13-year-old girl in Hamilton County, Ohio, attacked her mother with a knife. During the investigation, it was revealed that she had developed an 'obsession' with the Slender Man.
A few months later, in September 2014, a 14-year-old girl in Port Richey, Florida, set fire to her family’s home. Reports indicated that the Slender Man inspired her to commit the act. Thankfully, everyone inside the house managed to escape, and the girl was arrested the following morning.
Even the tragic murders of two police officers and a civilian in Las Vegas during the summer of 2014, followed by the suicide of the suspected killer and his wife, were linked to the Slender Man. Neighbors later told the media that the man had frequently dressed as the mythical figure and paraded around his house and yard.
5. Suicides Linked to the Slender Man
In the summer of 2015, The New York Times reported a series of suicides among young people aged 12 to 24 on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota over the course of six months. What's particularly notable about this string of suicides is that several officials involved with the cases revealed that 'at least one of the youths who took their own life was influenced by Slender Man.'
What makes the alleged connections between the Slender Man legends and these tragic deaths even more intriguing are the stories of the reservation itself. They tell of a spirit known as the Tall Man or Walking Sam. This spirit was said to visit chosen individuals and urge them to end their own lives. It may be mere coincidence that the Slender Man legend shares similarities with these Native American tales. However, the fusion of these stories within the reservation's community may have contributed to the devastating outcomes.
4. A Foiled Mass Suicide and Its Ties to Native American Lore
One particularly haunting tale describes a mass suicide attempt that was narrowly averted at the same reservation. According to reports, a group of teenagers headed to a secluded area in the woods, where they began tying ropes to tree branches, clearly intending to hang themselves as a group.
The local pastor, John Two Bulls, caught wind of the group's grim intentions and rushed to the location. Miraculously, he was able to intervene and stop the tragedy, seemingly breaking whatever trance the group had fallen into.
Whispers from the reservation suggested that the source of the attempted mass suicide was a visit from Walking Sam. With the Slender Man myth gaining widespread attention at the time, it's easy to see why some media outlets began linking the spirit of suicide and the new urban legend together.
3. The Modern-Day Boogeyman
There is no question that the Slender Man has become the Boogeyman of today’s generation. Ask anyone under 20 in the western world, and it’s almost guaranteed they’ll know exactly who he is. They may not be familiar with his origins or the full story, but they recognize the name. And while most understand, at least to some degree, that he is purely a legend, his image is deeply ingrained in their collective consciousness.
The similarities between Slender Man and the Boogeyman are striking. Both figures are said to lurk in search of children, and both have eerie, isolated homes, often hidden deep in the woods.
As for where the Slender Man legend will go from here, only time will tell. Perhaps, in centuries to come, children around the world will still whisper his name in fear, just as they do today.
2. Heated Online Debates
Following the attempted stabbing and the subsequent copycat incidents, a heated debate erupted. Initially focused on the Slender Man legend itself, the conversation soon shifted to the broader issue of the Internet’s influence on children. For example, after the stabbing of Payton Leutner in the Waukesha School District, the Creepypasta Wiki was blocked. The website administrators argued that the stabbing was an isolated case and emphasized that their platform was a literary site, not one that promoted violence.
The debate ultimately concluded that various forms of media—films, television shows, and video games—did not lead to such violent acts. In essence, the blame fell on the attackers themselves, rather than the supposed triggers. Despite starting with strong momentum, the debate lost steam as it progressed.
1. "Lacy" – A Truly Strange Tale
Paranormal investigator Nick Redfern shared a particularly strange story from a witness he referred to as 'Lacy.' Lacy claimed to have had several eerie, non-physical encounters with the Slender Man.
According to Lacy, after months of researching the Slender Man, her laptop—while in sleep mode—mysteriously powered on by itself one evening. To her astonishment, a faceless figure appeared on the screen, only to vanish moments later. She dismissed it as a figment of her imagination. However, two nights later, her laptop powered on again, and this time the face was clearer and more defined.
After a few weeks of silence, Lacy had nearly put the strange incidents behind her. That was until her laptop powered on once again. This time, a peculiar voice emanated from the device, saying, "we are friends." Disturbed, Lacy immediately shut down the laptop and decided to abandon her research on the Slender Man legends.
One could easily argue—perhaps rightfully—that Lacy's experiences were nothing more than hallucinations triggered by her obsessive fascination and subconscious dread of the Slender Man myths. However, it is worth considering the delicate boundary between believing in a legend and feeling as though that legend has come to life.
