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Friday, November 13, 2026Nov 13

Doctor: Girl thought horror character would hurt her family

Waukesha Police Detective Michelle Trussoni testifies during a preliminary hearing for two girls accused of stabbing a classmate to please the horror character Slender Man, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015 at the Waukesha County courthouse in Waukesha, Wis.  (AP Photo/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Michael Sears)
Waukesha Police Detective Michelle Trussoni testifies during a preliminary hearing for two girls accused of stabbing a classmate to please the horror character Slender Man, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015 at the Waukesha County courthouse in Waukesha, Wis. (AP Photo/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Michael Sears) Waukesha Police Detective Michelle Trussoni testifies during a preliminary hearing for two girls accused of stabbing a classmate to please the horror character Slender Man, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015 at the Waukesha County courthouse in Waukesha, Wis. (AP Photo/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Michael Sears)

WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP) – An attorney for one of two young Wisconsin girls accused of repeatedly stabbing their classmate to please a fictional horror character is trying to convince a judge the child acted in self-defense.

Psychologist Deborah Collins testified during the second day of a preliminary hearing that the defendant has an unyielding belief in Slender Man. Collins testified the girl feared the creature would hurt her and her family if she didn’t kill her friend. A private investigator hired by the defense testified he discovered more than 60 drawings of Slender Man in the girl’s bedroom.

The two girls, ages 12 and 13, are charged in adult court with attempted first-degree intentional homicide. The victim survived the attack.

Judge Michael Bohren said he’ll decide next month whether to order a trial.