Family of Waukesha stabbing victim launches fundraiser

Published on: 6/5/2014

The family of the Waukesha girl who was stabbed 19 times on May 30 by a pair of 12-year-old girls has launched an online fundraising campaign to help cover ongoing medical and legal expenses.

The campaign, "Hearts for Healing," has a fundraising goal of $250,000, according to a news release from a spokesperson for the family of the 12-year-old victim, who is still recovering from the attack.

Donors may use the website or donate to the Hearts for Healing Fund at branches of BMO Harris Bank.

"As parents of this little girl, we are overwhelmed with the amount of love and support we've received from our family, friends and community," the victim's parents said in the release.

"We appreciate your patience, love and support, as we too are stunned and saddened by this tragedy."

The victim's family asks for homemade hearts of purple paper, fabric, or felt "infused with prayers, love and light."

"The hearts will blanket the walls of the girl's room to remind her that the power of love is greater than all else," the family spokesperson said in the release.

The victim's family has launched a #HeartsForHealing twitter campaign and facebook page to spread the word, and requests the public respect their daughter's anonymity. 

The victim, a student at Horning Middle School, was allegedly lured into a wooded area in Waukesha and stabbed 19 times by two of her classmates.

The suspects, Morgan E. Geyser and Anissa E. Weier, have been charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide and face up to 65 years in prison if found guilty.

They are being tried in adult court. 

According to the criminal complaint, the suspects planned to kill the victim for months and told police that killing their friend would prove themselves worthy to the fictitious Internet character, Slender Man, which the girls said they learned about through the Creepypasta website.

After leaving their friend to die, they planned on living with Slender Man in his mansion in northern Wisconsin, according to the complaint.

The victim managed to crawl out of the woods and was found by a bicyclist, who called 911. 

The attack occurred the morning after a birthday party sleepover at Geyser's residence, according to the complaint.