Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who manipulated her online boyfriend to murder her mother and faked various serious illnesses, is scheduled to be released on parole tomorrow, Thursday.
The Blanchard case gained national attention when it was revealed that Gypsy’s mother, Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard, who was murdered in 2015, had allegedly kept her daughter captive and forced her to use a wheelchair and feeding tube, sparking widespread media interest.
Gypsy Blanchard, now 32, was discovered to be free of any health issues, contradicting her mother’s long-held claims of developmental delays and numerous illnesses. It was revealed that Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a condition in which caregivers fabricate or exaggerate children’s illnesses to gain sympathy for themselves, as stated by Gypsy’s trial attorney, Michael Stanfield.
“People repeatedly praised Dee Dee for her exceptional mothering, showering her with attention and admiration, which further fueled her behavior.”
The mother and daughter deceived others by faking illnesses, gaining them meetings with celebrities like Miranda Lambert, receiving charity donations, a trip to Disney World, and even a Habitat for Humanity-provided home near Springfield.
Stanfield revealed that Gypsy Blanchard’s mother deceived doctors by claiming her daughter’s medical records were lost during Hurricane Katrina and frequently changed physicians to avoid scrutiny. As part of the ruse, she shaved Gypsy’s head and convinced doctors that salivary gland removal was necessary by surreptitiously using topical anesthetic to induce drooling. This resulted in Gypsy undergoing unnecessary medical procedures, including the removal of her salivary glands.
According to Stanfield, Gypsy Blanchard received minimal education and had limited interactions with people besides her mother, leaving her uninformed and vulnerable to her mother’s manipulation, particularly during her younger years.
“Doctors appear to validate the information, and the outside world portrays your mother as an admirable and compassionate individual. It shapes your perception and leaves you with little reason to doubt or question her actions.”
However, as time passed, the abuse became more tangible and violent, according to Stanfield. During the trial, Gypsy testified that her mother resorted to physical abuse, including beating her and chaining her to a bed. As this was happening, Gypsy slowly began to realize that her health was not as fragile as her mother had led her to believe.
“I longed to break free from her control over me,” Gypsy testified during the 2018 trial of her former boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn, who is serving a life sentence for his involvement in the murder. She further explained, “I persuaded him to go along with it.”
After enduring abuse, Gypsy received a plea deal from prosecutors requiring her to plead guilty to second-degree murder in return for a reduced sentence of 10 years in prison. This agreement allowed her to avoid the life sentence she would have faced if she were found guilty of first-degree murder, the initial charge pressed against her.
“Nick had an intense infatuation with Gypsy and was easily manipulated because of his autism,” argued Dewayne Perry, Godejohn’s trial attorney. “He became so consumed by his feelings that he would have done anything she asked.”
Prosecutors claimed that Godejohn was driven by sexual desire and a passionate longing to be with Gypsy Blanchard, whom he met on a Christian dating site. According to the probable cause statement, Gypsy Blanchard provided the knife and concealed herself in the bathroom while Godejohn stabbed her mother multiple times. Subsequently, the couple traveled by bus to Wisconsin, where they were taken into custody and arrested. Since then, Gypsy Blanchard has been imprisoned at a women’s correctional facility in Chillicothe.
Law enforcement had difficulty determining Gypsy’s age due to conflicting information, with court documents listing three separate ages, the youngest being 19. In reality, Gypsy was 23. Greene County Prosecutor Dan Patterson characterized the situation as “one of the most remarkable and unconventional cases we have encountered.” During their initial meeting, Gypsy became winded simply walking the short distance (69 meters) from the elevator to the interview room, appearing undernourished and physically weak, according to Stanfield’s recollection.
Stanfield noted that Gypsy’s positive transformation following her time in prison stands out as remarkable, as the prison environment rarely fosters happiness and well-being.
Gypsy’s experience serves as a compelling testament to the unimaginable hardships she faced prior to her incarceration. Following her arrest, Gypsy gradually came to understand her innate resilience and health, leading her to find love and marry Ryan Scott Anderson while still incarcerated. Despite her ordeal, Gypsy found happiness and a sense of peace within herself.
Numerous media outlets have featured Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s peculiar and disturbing case, including an HBO documentary, a Hulu miniseries, and an upcoming Lifetime docuseries. Additionally, Dr. Phil McGraw conducted an exclusive prison interview, and a fictional novel, “Darling Rose Gold,” drew inspiration from her story.
Amidst immense media attention, the corrections department announced that no in-person coverage of Gypsy’s release on Thursday would be permitted to ensure safety, security, and privacy concerns.
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