♪ i could look at a rose unlike any rose ♪ ♪ there is a fault out with it, go ♪ ♪ look at the surface, it's just flowers mixed with leaves ♪ ♪ flowers mixed with leaves flowers ♪ [ cheers and applause ] this is nightline.

>> tonight. slender man shakeup. >> on a 12 year old female. she appears to be stabbed. she appears to be what? stabbed. stabbed. >> new bombshell allegations may jeopardize the ringleaders freedom in the crime that shocked the nation. >> how in the heck can these two innocent looking 12 year old girls commit such a heinous act? >> on the verge of being released from a psychiatric facility. >> this was and is a case about mental health. >> after serving nearly 11 years for attacking and nearly killing their best friend. >> shabu shabu shabu shabu. >> could morgan geyser still walk free? plus count down to oscar? less than 48 hours away from hollywood's biggest night. >> this is the most unpredictable race i've ever covered. >> we do. to gravity. >> the race is considered anyone's call. performances. defying gravity. like cynthia erivo and demi moore just winning her first golden globe after decades in the business.

>> i couldn't be acknowledged and i bought in and i believed that. >> up against hollywood newcomers. >> i mean, i've always daydreamed about something like this. >> the history that could be made this year. >> it would be the youngest ever. yes. if this were to happen, what would that mean to you? >> it's never too late. >> like elton john's nominated song. it's never too late to guess who will take home the oscar. oscar. >> nightline will be kid has a fever? well, #1 selling bekoool cooling patches give instant relief from fever discomfort. yes, bekoool works “are-we-there-yet?” fast. kobayashi healthcare. if it hurts, we help. [♪] koare you one of the. millions of americans who suffer from an upset stomach after a big meal? try pepto bismol. unlike some products, pepto coats and soothes your digestive system, to provide fast 5-symptom relief. stock up on pepto today. are you... saying munch? yup! he's craving my new big smashed jack,

with more than double the beef of a big mac. i'm in love... with? what's her face, right? get my new big smashed jack and so munch more. welcome to jack in the box! if you like options, you'll love my $6 all day big deal meal. choose from 4 delicious entrées and 5 tasty sides with a drink. oh, and nobody else includes breakfast items all day. just this guy. at jack, every bite's a big deal! welcome to jack in the box!

>> thanksning us. tonight, bombshell allegations at an unexpected hearing called today in the slender man case that once captivated the nation. the slumber party with 312 year old friends turning into a brutal stabbing. the victim barely surviving the attack. the ringleader due to be released from their psychiatric facility. but the new development now casting doubt on morgan geyser's chance at freedom. female. she appears to be stabbed. she appears to be shot, stabbed. stabbed. correct. >> a 12 year old girl crawling out of the woods, fighting for her life. stabbed 19 times. h two friends, admitting to the shocking crime they say was all

to appease a fictional online character, slenderman. >> he had to prove ourselves worthy to fund her. >> now, nearly 11 years later, the ringleader, morgan geyser, on the verge of being set free from a mental facility until a last minute hearing today came with shocking new allegations jeopardizing their impending release. a new petition from the wisconsin department of health services accusing morgan, now 22, of having an inappropriate relationship with a man outside of the facility. >> he's sexually aroused by her criminal action, allowing him to visit her, writing him letters indicating her intent to be sexually intimate with him, sending him artwork of a very violent nature. >> prosecutors also saying morgan was drawn to a violent book while in the facility. >> the reading material that she's so focused on has themes of sexual sadism and murder and

the sale of human organs on the black market. >> as you might imagine, there's no internet access. so she reads a lot. these are books that are being read inside the facility. there is no suggestion here that she secretly smuggled in some contraband. >> morgan's attorney, pushing back on the allegations. >> winnebago has known every name of every person who has ever come in to visit her. there's no surreptitious, secret meetings that have taken place. >> the saga of the slender man stabbings all started 11 years ago in the town of waukesha, wisconsin. >> waukesha, wisconsin is a suburb of milwaukee. it was known for being a pretty safe environment. >> morgan geyser, anissa weier, and payton leitner finding friendship in elementary and middle school. my colleague, 2020 co-anchor david muir, has been covering this story from the start and spoke exclusively to payton in 2019. >> go back to 12 year old

payton. how would you describe her? >> hopeful. positive. an animal lover. i saw the good in people. >> morgan and anissa bonded as fellow outcasts. >> looking back, anissa was never really invited to a lot of birthday parties or anything. and i don't think she really made friends that easy. >> morgan didn't do a lot of bullying, especially in the sixth grade by the other students. >> their interests. >> were similar with regards to what they like to read. they were into horror stories. the supernatural. >> the trio celebrating morgan's 12th birthday in may of 2014 with roller skating and a slumber party. unbeknownst to payton, a sinister plot was afoot. >> i wanted to give her at least one more morning. >> the next morning. then they wake up, they have breakfast, they play games. they then go to the park. >> they're going to do it today at the park. that's what morgan

said. >> at the park. morgan and anissa suggesting a game of hide and seek luring their friend payton, who they also called bella, into the woods nearby. >> anissa told me to lie on the ground and, like, cover myself and, like, sticks and leaves and stuff, but it was really just a trick. >> so i started walking away. and then, like when i was five feet away, i said, now i'm like, i have a go ballistic, go crazy, make sure she's down. >> what did she do next? >> i already told you. >> what was that? >> stab stab stab stab stab. >> payton bleeding out on the ground. her friends fleeing. >> i kind of just laid there for a minute. >> you walked out of the woods. >> i got up, grabbed a couple trees for support, i think, and then just walked until i hit a patch of grass where i could lay down. >> a local cyclist found her and called 911. payton. survival. a

testament to her fighting spirit. five hours later, police found morgan and anissa and took them into custody. >> it was weird. i felt no remorse. i thought i would. >> an hours long interrogations. morgan and anissa's chilling motives revealed. >> what are we trying to do with her when you stabbed her? >> kill her? i might as well just say it. we were trying to kill her. >> the horror, they say in honor of someone else. a character they call slenderman. >> who's slenderman? >> he's. he's this tall, faceless man who preys on children at his own will. he could explain these tendrils from his back. and, like, strangle his victims. the creepypasta wiki said he targets children. >> post that scary story. first appearing in online forums and

message boards in 2009. >> slenderman was originally created as a sort of fan fiction and an extension of the campfire horror story. >> the perpetrators claiming that slenderman would hurt them or their families if they didn't do what he asked. >> i was really scared, knowing that slender could easily kill my whole family and three seconds. >> morgan geyser and anissa weier ultimately charged with attempted first degree intentional homicide. nearly three years after the attack, anissa pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of attempted second degree intentional homicide. >> does that mean she participated in the events? i understand. >> but for sentencing a jury, deciding she was not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, committing the then 15 year old to a state mental institution for up to 25 years,

rather than send her to prison. >> with that, i will order that she be committed to the department of health services. >> among anissa's diagnoses, a shared psychotic disorder. >> three different doctors or experts all agreed that it as rare as it is. she happened to meet another 12 year old who was more ill than she was and kind of got caught up in her own delusions and what they call a shared delusion. >> experts for morgan geyser's defense team testified that morgan had early onset schizophrenia. >> when morgan was 12, her mental health was untreated. she was entering her adolescent years, and she had trouble distinguishing fact from fiction. >> morgan's attorneys, cutting a deal with prosecutors. morgan also sentenced to a mental health institution in 2018 for up to 40 years. anissa and morgan were locked up in this facility. the winnebago mental

health institute. >> do you fear for the day that either one of them is back out in the community? >> no, because if they ever come near me, they're going right back in. so. >> so you don't walk around with that? >> no. when they get out, i don't think it's going to change my life at all. >> anissa was granted conditional supervised release in 2021 at the age of 19. and during the decade of treatment, morgan geyser also petitioning the court for release. those requests withdrawn or denied until january of this year, when three doctors and a judge all agreed morgan was fit to be released. >> geyser does not pose a significant risk risk of bodily harm to herself or others. >> morgan, who is psychologist, told the court now identifies as a trans man, was on the verge of being released. but after the disturbing revelations from today's hearing, morgan's fate is uncertain. and geyser is back

in court next week, where a judge could decide whether to revoke the previously granted release. and for much more on this story, watch. impact by nightline. surviving slenderman now streaming on hulu. and when we come back. >> what is this feeling? so sudden and new? >> i felt the moment i laid eyes on you. >> what is this feeling? well, like the song from wicked. it's the building excitement of the race to the oscar gold. now less race to the oscar gold. now less than 48 hours away. ♪ but thanks to skyrizi, i'm free to bare my skin. ♪ things are getting clearer, i feel free ♪ ♪ to bare my skin, yeah that's all me ♪ ♪ nothing is everything ♪ ♪ with skyrizi, i saw dramatically clearer skin. and many people were 100% plaque free. skyrizi is just 4 doses a year

after 2 starter doses. don't use if allergic. serious allergic reactions, increased infections, or lower ability to fight them may occur. before treatment, get checked for infections and tb. tell your doctor about any flu-like symptoms or vaccines. ♪ ♪ nothing and me, go hand-in-hand, ♪ ♪ nothing on my skin, that's my new plan ♪ ♪ nothing is everything ♪ now's the time - ask your doctor about skyrizi, the number one dermatologist-prescribed biologic in psoriasis. learn how abbvie could help you save. my skin? she gets thirsty. and venus gets it. so, when i shave, it's the new venus moisture glide. it's got five blades and bars with a touch of argan oil that lock in moisture. feel the power of smooth. my skin. my way. venus. mucinex nightshift starts working at bed time to fight your worst night-time symptoms. how could you? and leaves your system fast. by the time you wake up, you're ready to take on the day. try it and feel the difference.

mucinex nightshift, it's comeback season. oooh! beak's up! [gasp] we're trapped by dishes. don't worry. they've got new dawn powersuds. it'll power through this whole pile with ease. yeah, it's the dish soap with two times more powerful suds. (giggles) lucky ducks! dawn's first suds that trap, lock and remove 99% of grease. so it doesn't get passed from dish... to dish. cleaned and stacked. like ducks in a row. heh. good one. new dawn powersuds. the better grease getter. it's thescars with performances by ariana grande, doja cat and many more. hosted by conan o'brien. >> the stars, the glamor

been saved.

>> welcome back. it's the high holiday of hollywood. the 97th academy awards as la's dolby theater gets ready for the big night, we're joined by abc's whit johnson on the red carpet. whit, what's happening at oscar headquarters? >> juju. we are just 48 hours away from the big show, and they're putting the finishing touches on everything. these are those iconic oscar statues. they range in size from 8 to 18ft. they'll be lining the red carpet here. also, you'll notice these cream colored drapes that stretch that elegance right up to the sky. that's to cover up the protective tent that's here. they put that in about 12 years ago to protect the carpet and protect the stars. and they're going to need it because we're expecting rain on sunday. you can see the red carpet itself is covered in this plastic right now. and did you know it's not really a true red. it's more of a crimson color considered more flattering for the stars. but right now it's pretty much a construction zone here, with all the hundreds of journalists from all over the world lining up and

getting ready, things are going to look a lot different on oscar sunday. juju. >> whit johnson thank you. as the big screens, brightest stars get ready for their close ups, they and the rest of us wonder who will win big at this year's oscars. it's oscars cynthia erivo is flying in like her wicked character elphaba. >> to find gravity green. >> the best actress nominee sitting down with gma co-anchor robin roberts. >> of course, this is your third oscar nom. >> so insane. >> oh. >> it's really wild to hear the third time. you know, you don't think it will happen again, and then it does happen again. it's sort of. it's really wonderful. >> it's been five years since erivo was double nominated for best actress and best original song, playing harriet tubman in harriet. >> i've been trying to make sure

that the things that happen i am present for. i can share the gratitude for them. >> ooh. >> millions are expected to tune in to see what movie will nab best picture. >> this is the most unpredictable race i've ever covered. you could be in store for some of the biggest surprises that's ever happened. >> this year's academy awards, happening in the tragic aftermath of the wildfires that tore through los angeles. >> we want. >> our show to be a love letter to l.a. it's a city where you can come and fulfill your dreams, and we hope that we touch on that in the show. >> instead of performances of the best song nominees, this year's musical numbers will honor l.a. and the movie industry with performers like doja cat, queen latifah, and erivo with her wicked costar ariana grande. at just 38, erivo already has emmy, grammy and tony awards, which makes her just an oscar win away from the precious egot status. >> it would be the youngest

egot, the youngest egot. if this were to happen, what would that mean to you? >> i think it would mean quite a bit to even think that that's a possibility is mind blowing. and hopefully just a doorway into doing more, not just for me, but for other people. >> jimmy right here. >> the favorite in the best actress category heading into the weekend for her role in the substance. demi moore, who is still sizzling at 62. and it wasn't until this year's golden globes that moore won her first major industry award, sharing that a producer once called her a popcorn actress. >> i made that mean that this wasn't something that i was allowed to have, that i could do movies that were successful, that made a lot of money, but that i couldn't be acknowledged. and i bought in, and i believed that. >> this is her very first oscar nomination, a horror film. the

substance requiring moore to step outside her comfort zone and confront the very idea of stardom. >> we have seen that hollywood treats women differently when they reach a certain age. and she is the latest example that that that doesn't have to be true. continue to chase it. you don't know when it's going to be your time. >> and if there's a dark horse in this race, it could be 25 year old mikey madison, who's nominated for her breakout role in nora, playing a young sex worker who gets a shot at a cinderella ending. >> i'm not. >> you know, i don't speak. >> russian, but i know russian. >> two weeks ago, madison won the bafta for best actress. sometimes a predictor for the oscar. >> i've always daydreamed about something like this, but i didn't think it would actually happen. so i think that that's something i'm. i'm just processing. it feels quite surreal. >> mikey. over that left shoulder. mikey. >> eyes will also be on what mikey and all the others are wearing.

>> mikey madison, who is a very much a newcomer to the awards season. she's really made a splash with her first go. i really love that she's channeled old hollywood glamor in a way that doesn't feel stiff or boring. >> back in a sea of gowns, hollywood's golden girls are showing that age is nothing but a number shining brightly and daring, even super sexy looks throughout award season. >> demi moore, who is being dressed by brad goreski, has truly been an amazing example of how age should not dictate what you like in fashion. >> this time around, erivo's favorite fashion accessory has been her nails. long, colorful and bold. >> i always try to find like a modicum of inspiration and i just give it to the nail artist. her name is mica dior and she's exquisite. she's only 19. >> 19? >> 19. i don't know how she does it, but she does. >> emceeing the event conan o'brien taking his first swing

at hosting the big show. talking to abc's chris connelly. >> what about singing and dancing? is that a possibility for you? we polled america. i spent a lot of my own money polling americans and saying, is it? would you like to see conan o'brien sing and dance? shocking response. people don't want it, which means i'll probably try and do it. let's just say there are many possibilities. there are many possibilities. and like i say, we'll see what happens. >> and of course, the oscars broadcast begins sunday night at 7 p.m. eastern, right here on abc. when we come back, simone biles, muhammad ali and doctor martin luther king jr. just martin luther king jr. just three of the icons paid tribute oh, it makes me want to tear up. i swear to god, there ain't no way i would be here without tik tok. i got really good at tearing motors apart and putting them back together, and the car still worked. i received so much support for that, and it made me feel like, okay, maybe i can really, really, really do this.

(♪) my business has tripled in the last year because of me sharing my videos on tiktok. i wouldn't be able to support the families they'll work for me now without tik tok. without the increase in sales. (♪) if you're living with hiv, imagine being good to go without daily hiv pills. ♪ good to go binge-watch. ♪ good to go out even later. ♪ with cabenuva, there's no pausing for daily hiv pills. for adults who are undetectable, cabenuva is the only complete, long-acting hiv treatment you can get every other month. it's two injections from a healthcare provider, as few as 6 times a year. don't take cabenuva if you're allergic to its ingredients, or taking certain medicines, that may interact. serious side effects include allergic reactions or rash, post-injection reactions, liver problems, and depression. if these occur, get medical help right away. tell your doctor about your medicines or supplements,

medical conditions, liver or kidney problems, mental health, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. the most common side effect is injection site reaction ♪ with cabenuva, you're good to go. without daily hiv pills. talk to your doctor about switching. for peace in ukraine. massive cuts on capitol hill and the president's address to congress. th

>> and finally, tonight, paying tribute to icons, a baltimore middle school honoring black history month with a living history wax museum exhibit. >> hello, my name is jean michael garcia. >> students paying tribute to the world class gymnast