Bill Weier is not a name that’s figured prominently in the Slender Man case, in which two young girls stand accused of attempting to murder a third in 2014. Father of one of the two, Weier has been a more elusive presence than Morgan Geyser’s father, Matt, who himself suffers from schizophrenia and marches in front of cameras most every time he leaves a Waukesha courtroom. Yet it’s Weier who will be participating in a live panel at the South by Southwest festival on Sunday in conjunction with the “Beware the Slenderman” documentary, which claims exclusive access to the accused’s families. The movie debuts at the Topfer Theater in Austin, Texas, on Friday.
The panel will explore “the increasingly digital world, the potentially dangerous power of memes and the internet’s influence on our children … What is the downside to infinite information at their fingertips, 24/7? How do kids understand what they discover online, when their skills of critical thought and analysis are only just developing? How can parents and content creators help them navigate the internet?”
According to the movie poster above (click for full), “Beware the Slenderman” will also be airing “soon” on HBO.
Our January cover story focused on the case and the friendship between the two girls that gave rise to the bizarre attack.
