Crime

Purple Heart sent to victim,12, in "Slenderman" case

/ CBS/AP

WAUKESHA, Wis. - The Wisconsin girl stabbed 19 times, allegedly by classmates trying to please a fictional online character known as Slenderman, has received a military Purple Heart from an anonymous donor.

The girl's family had asked that well-wishers send her purple hearts, reflecting her favorite color and shape, and the 12-year-old was inundated with paper hearts from across the country. Then one person sent her the real thing.

The girl's family said Tuesday that the medal came with a card that read: "The only heart I could find! Be strong!"

The military awards the Purple Heart to veterans wounded or killed in action.

Investigators say the girl nearly died in May after being lured to a park and attacked by two 12-year-old girls after a sleepover in Waukesha, outside Milwaukee. She's now recovering at home.

The suspects are each charged as adults with attempted homicide, but the girls' attorneys have said they hope to see the charges moved to juvenile court. Doctors have found one of the 12-year-old suspects incompetent to stand trial.

First published on July 22, 2014 / 5:40 PM EDT

© 2014 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.