Gypsy Rose Blanchard grew up with her mother, Dee Dee, falsely claiming she was sick. Dee Dee’s lies led to multiple medical diagnoses and treatments. However, Gypsy was not ill. Experts believe Dee Dee had Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a disorder where someone fakes or causes illness in another. Dee Dee likely wanted to be seen as a caregiver. In 2015, the truth came out when Gypsy asked her online boyfriend to kill Dee Dee.
The Complete Story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard
Arrest and Charges
In 2015, Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her then-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, were arrested for the murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard.
Sentencing
In 2016, Gypsy received a 10-year prison sentence due to her role in the crime. Meanwhile, Godejohn, who carried out the attack, was also found guilty of his involvement in the murder.
Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy
Gypsy Rose Blanchard has a Munchausen syndrome by proxy. This disorder occurs when a caretaker fabricates or induces illness in another person for attention.
Forced Medical Treatments
Throughout her life, Gypsy’s mother forced her to undergo unnecessary treatments for conditions she didn’t have, including leukemia and muscular dystrophy. She was also made to use a wheelchair and oxygen tank despite being physically healthy.
Regret and Reflection
In a 2017 interview with Dr. Phil, Gypsy expressed regret over her mother’s death. “I have to pray to forgive my mother, but the hardest part is forgiving myself,” she shared.
Planning and Aftermath
During her trial, Gypsy admitted to arranging for Godejohn to come to Springfield and kill her mother. After the murder, the couple fled to Wisconsin, where they were arrested shortly after.
Dee Dee’s Early Illness Deception
Gypsy Rose Blanchard Date of B
irth
Dee Dee Blanchard began fabricating illnesses for Gypsy when she was just a baby. Born in 1991, Gypsy was claimed to have sleep apnea as an infant.
Escalation of Lies
By the time Gypsy was 8, Dee Dee falsely said she had leukemia, muscular dystrophy, and needed a wheelchair and feeding tube. Over time, the list of supposed ailments grew, including seizures, asthma, and hearing and vision impairments.
Unnecessary Treatments
Due to Dee Dee’s lies, Gypsy was prescribed numerous medications and had to use a breathing machine while sleeping. She also underwent several surgeries, including procedures on her eyes and the removal of her salivary glands.
Dental Issues
Gypsy’s teeth eventually decayed, likely due to medications, lack of salivary glands, or neglect. As a result, her teeth were removed.
The Truth Revealed
The reality was that Gypsy could walk and didn’t require a feeding tube or suffer from cancer. Her bald head was a result of her mother shaving her hair off.
Dee Dee’s Mental Illness
Experts suggest that Dee Dee Blanchard suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, also known as factitious disorder imposed on another. This mental illness drove her to fabricate her daughter’s illnesses.
Seeking Attention
Dee Dee’s actions were motivated by a desire for attention and sympathy. By portraying Gypsy as a sick child, she garnered pity and support from those around her.
Dee Dee’s Charming Persona Led to Widespread Belief
Deceptive Appearances
Dee Dee Blanchard presented herself as a charming and devoted mother, which led many people to believe her claims. Medical tests often yielded inconclusive or contradictory results about Gypsy’s health.
Manipulation of Medical Professionals
Many caregivers complied with Dee Dee’s wishes. With some nursing training, she was able to accurately describe symptoms and even administered medication to simulate various conditions in Gypsy. As Gypsy grew older, Dee Dee instructed her not to share information during appointments, controlling the narrative of Gypsy’s fabricated medical history.
Misinformation to Family
Dee Dee told Gypsy’s father, Rod Blanchard, that their daughter had a chromosomal disorder, which led him to praise her for her devoted care. When some family members noticed that Gypsy didn’t seem to need a wheelchair and raised questions, Dee Dee and Gypsy moved away to avoid scrutiny.
Relocation Post-Hurricane Katrina
After Hurricane Katrina, Dee Dee claimed to be a victim of the disaster, enabling them to receive assistance for relocating from Louisiana to Missouri in 2005. In Missouri, Dee Dee continued to bring Gypsy to various doctor appointments. The hurricane also served as a convenient excuse for the missing medical records.
Continued Deception About Gypsy’s Health and Age
New Beginnings in Springfield
In 2008, Gypsy and Dee Dee moved into a pink house in Springfield, Missouri, built by Habitat for Humanity. The home featured a wheelchair ramp and provided them with various benefits, including charity-sponsored visits to concerts and Disney World. Throughout this time, Dee Dee reveled in the attention she received as a devoted caretaker.
Medical Suspicion
When Gypsy was 14, she consulted a neurologist in Missouri who suspected she was a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. However, this doctor did not report the case to authorities, believing there wasn’t enough evidence to take action.
Anonymous Report
In 2009, an anonymous report was made to authorities, claiming that Dee Dee’s accounts of Gypsy’s ailments lacked medical foundation. This prompted two caseworkers to visit their home, but Dee Dee successfully convinced them that nothing was wrong.
Altered Identity
As Gypsy grew older, Dee Dee started lying about her age. However, Gypsy was becoming increasingly difficult for Dee Dee to control.
Gypsy Persuaded an Online Acquaintance to Kill Dee Dee
Attempt to Escape
In 2011, Gypsy attempted to flee from her mother by running away with a man she met at a science fiction convention. However, Dee Dee soon located them through mutual friends and convinced the man that Gypsy was a minor, even though she was actually 19.
After they returned home, Dee Dee destroyed Gypsy’s computer and physically restrained her to the bed. Gypsy reported that her mother also hit her and withheld food.
Meeting Nicholas Godejohn
Eventually, Gypsy got back online and joined a Christian dating site, where she met Nicholas Godejohn. She opened up to him about her mother’s abusive behavior and even asked him to kill Dee Dee so they could be together.
The Murder
In June 2015, Nicholas came to Gypsy’s house and stabbed Dee Dee while Gypsy waited in the bathroom with her ears covered.
Arrest and Social Media Posts
After the murder, Gypsy and Godejohn returned to his home in Wisconsin, where police found them. Gypsy had posted twice on the Facebook account she shared with her mother, including one message that read, “That b–– is dead!” Later, she explained that she made the posts to ensure her mother’s body would be discovered.
Gypsy Felt Afraid and Distrustful
Questions After the Murder
After Dee Dee’s murder, many wondered why Gypsy felt the need to kill her. Since she could walk, she could have exposed Dee Dee’s lies by standing up in public.
A Lifetime of Control
Gypsy spent her life controlled and monitored by her mother. She wasn’t allowed to attend school. Although Gypsy had normal intelligence, Dee Dee claimed her daughter had a mental age of 7. In public, Dee Dee constantly held Gypsy’s hand and squeezed it to keep her quiet.
Expert Insight
Dr. Marc Feldman, an expert in Munchausen syndrome by proxy, noted, “The control was total, like that of a kidnapped victim. Her daughter was essentially a hostage, trying to escape.”
Gypsy’s Regret Over Dee Dee’s Death
Plea Deal and Sentencing
Gypsy’s medical records documented the abuse she endured, allowing her lawyer to arrange a plea deal. In 2016, she pled guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, serving 85 percent of her sentence before being released on December 28, 2023. Meanwhile, Godejohn was convicted of first-degree murder in 2018 and received a life sentence.
Life in Prison
Gypsy reported enjoying more freedom in prison than she had while living with Dee Dee. However, when Dr. Phil asked if she was glad her mother was dead, Gypsy replied, “I’m glad that I’m out of that situation, but I’m not happy she’s dead.”
Realization of Deception
After Dee Dee’s death, Gypsy began to comprehend the full extent of her mother’s lies.
New Beginnings
Currently, Gypsy is healthy and resides in Louisiana with her father and stepmother. She has been featured in two Lifetime shows: The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up. Recently, she revealed she is expecting a baby with her boyfriend, Ken Urker, due in January 2025.
FAQs
What is gypsy rose crime?
Gypsy Rose Blanchard was involved in the murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, in 2015. Dee Dee had subjected Gypsy to years of abuse and Munchausen syndrome by proxy, leading to this tragic crime.
How long was Gypsy in jail?
Gypsy Rose Blanchard was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her role in her mother’s murder. She was incarcerated from 2016 until her release on parole in 2023, serving about 7 years.
When gypsy rose release?
Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released from prison on December 28, 2023, after serving nearly 7 years of her 10-year sentence.
when does gypsy rose get out of jail?
Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released from prison on December 28, 2023.
How old is Gypsy Rose?
Gypsy Rose Blanchard was born on July 27, 1991, which makes her 33 years old as of now.