Gypsy Rose Blanchard set for an Early Release
In 2016, Gypsy Rose Blanchard (she/her) pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the stabbing of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard (she/her). Gypsy and her then-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn (he/him), planned the murder; Godejohn stabbing Dee Dee Blanchard while she was sleeping in her bed. Gypsy Rose Blanchard was abused by her mother, who is reported having one of the worst documented cases of Munchausen syndrome by proxy or MSP; a rare psychological disorder in which someone purposefully makes another person sick, in order to feel control over them or to gain attention.
For her entire life, Gypsy Rose Blanchard was told she was terminally ill and mentally deficient. Her mother put her through unnecessary surgeries and procedures, put her on unneeded medications, and lied about her age- making her seem younger than she actually was. Dee Dee also manipulated charities, having them send her and Gypsy on free vacations to Disney, and having one build her and Gypsy a new house that was wheelchair accessible- later evident that Gypsy was utilizing this mobility assistant without need to.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard was sentenced to ten years in prison for the premeditation of her mother’s murder, while Godejohn is serving life. She and Godejohn have since separated, with Blanchard marrying her prison pen pal. In an interview with Dr. Phil (he/him) shortly after her sentencing, she stated “I believe firmly that no matter what, murder is not okay…I do believe that I do deserve to spend some time in prison for that crime. But I also understand why it happened, and I don’t believe that I’m in the right place to get the help that I need.” Blanchard is set to be released three years early on parole. Gypsy Rose, now 32, will be free for the first time in her life on December 28th, 2023.
