Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s mother, Dee Dee, pretended for years that her daughter had various illnesses. In 2015, Gypsy, who had been trapped in this deception, had her boyfriend kill her mother to escape the abusive situation.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s mother, Dee Dee, lied about Gypsy’s health, leading to unnecessary medical treatments and diagnoses. Despite what people believed, Gypsy was healthy—her mother was making up her symptoms. Dee Dee’s actions were related to Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a condition where someone fakes or causes illness in someone they care for. The truth came out when Gypsy, trying to break free from her mother’s control, had her online boyfriend kill Dee Dee in 2015.
Gypsy’s Childhood of Fake Illnesses: Dee Dee’s Deception from the Start
Gypsy was born in 1991, and from a young age, her mother, Dee Dee, started making up stories about her being seriously ill. By the time Gypsy was 8, Dee Dee claimed she had leukemia and muscular dystrophy, and needed a wheelchair and feeding tube. Over the years, Dee Dee added more fake illnesses, saying Gypsy had seizures, asthma, and trouble with hearing and seeing.
Because of these false claims, Gypsy was given lots of unnecessary medications and even had to sleep with a breathing machine. She went through several surgeries, including ones on her eyes and the removal of her salivary glands. Her teeth eventually decayed—likely due to the medications, lack of saliva, or neglect—and they had to be removed.
In reality, Gypsy could walk just fine, didn’t need a feeding tube, and never had cancer. Her head was bald because her mother shaved her hair off to keep up the appearance of illness. Experts think Dee Dee suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a mental disorder that led her to make up Gypsy’s health problems so she could get attention and sympathy for being the mother of a sick child.
The Illusion of a Devoted Mother: How Dee Dee Fooled Everyone
Medical tests on Gypsy often didn’t add up, showing conflicting or unclear results. But whenever a doctor questioned Gypsy’s supposed illnesses, Dee Dee would simply stop seeing them and find someone else. Many medical professionals just went along with Dee Dee’s claims. With her nursing background, Dee Dee knew how to describe symptoms convincingly, and she sometimes gave Gypsy medication to mimic certain conditions. Dee Dee was charming and seemed like a loving mother, which made it easy for her to control the narrative. As Gypsy got older, Dee Dee told her to stay quiet during doctor’s visits, making sure she was the one telling the story of Gypsy’s fake health problems.
Dee Dee told Gypsy’s father, Rod Blanchard, that their daughter had a chromosomal disorder causing all her health issues. Rod praised Dee Dee for being such a dedicated caregiver. When some of Dee Dee’s family started noticing that Gypsy didn’t need a wheelchair and began asking questions, Dee Dee and Gypsy quickly moved away.
Dee Dee also claimed they were victims of Hurricane Katrina, which helped them get aid to move from Louisiana to Missouri in 2005. This move allowed Dee Dee to continue taking Gypsy to new doctors without any questions. The hurricane also became a convenient excuse for missing medical records.
The Age of Deception: Dee Dee’s Lies Kept Gypsy Trapped in Childhood
In 2008, Gypsy and Dee Dee moved into a new house in Springfield, Missouri, courtesy of Habitat for Humanity. The house was pink, had a wheelchair ramp, and was built to accommodate the needs Dee Dee claimed Gypsy had. They also received various benefits, including charity-sponsored trips to concerts and Disney World. Dee Dee continued to enjoy the attention and praise she received as a devoted caregiver.
When Gypsy was 14, she saw a neurologist in Missouri who suspected that Gypsy was a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. However, he never reported it to authorities, later saying he didn’t think there was enough evidence. In 2009, someone anonymously reported to authorities that Dee Dee’s claims about Gypsy’s health were unfounded and had no medical basis. Despite this, when caseworkers visited their home, Dee convinced them everything was fine.
As Gypsy got older, Dee Dee started lying about her age, even altering Gypsy’s birth certificate to make her seem younger. However, Gypsy was becoming harder for Dee Dee to control.
Online Connection Turns Deadly: How Gypsy Plotted Dee Dee’s Murder
In 2011, Gypsy tried to escape her mother by running away with a man she’d met at a science fiction convention. However, Dee Dee quickly tracked them down through mutual friends. She convinced the man that Gypsy was underage, even though Gypsy was 19 at the time. When they returned home, Gypsy said Dee Dee smashed her computer and tied her to the bed. Gypsy also claimed that her mother would sometimes hit her and deny her food.
Despite these challenges, Gypsy eventually found a way to get back online. She joined a Christian dating site and met Nicholas Godejohn. She confided in him about the abuse she was suffering and eventually asked him to kill Dee Dee so they could be together. In June 2015, Nicholas came to Gypsy’s house and stabbed Dee Dee to death while Gypsy waited in the bathroom with her ears covered.
After the murder, Gypsy and Nicholas fled to his home in Wisconsin, but the police soon found them. Gypsy had posted on the Facebook account she shared with her mother, writing, “That b–– is dead!She later made sense of that she made the presents on guarantee that her mom’s body would be found.
Trapped and Terrified: Gypsy’s Struggle with Fear and Isolation
After Dee Dee’s murder, many people who knew Gypsy wondered why she felt the need to go to such extremes. They questioned why she didn’t just stand up in public to reveal Dee Dee’s lies, since she could walk. But Gypsy had been conditioned to believe no one would believe her. She made sense of, “I couldn’t simply leap out of the wheelchair since I was apprehensive and didn’t have the foggiest idea what my mom would do. I didn’t have anyone to trust.”
Her mother had controlled the gypsy’s entire life. She wasn’t allowed to go to school, and although Gypsy was mentally sharp, Dee Dee told everyone she had the mind of a 7-year-old. In public, Dee Dee would hold Gypsy’s hand, squeezing it to keep her quiet.
Dr. Marc Feldman, a specialist in Munchausen syndrome by proxy, compared Gypsy’s situation to that of a kidnapped victim, saying, “The control was total. Her daughter was, in essence, a hostage, and I think we can understand the crime that occurred as a hostage trying to escape.
Free But Not at Peace: Gypsy’s Conflicted Feelings After Dee Dee’s Death
As Gypsy’s medical records revealed the years of abuse she endured, her lawyer secured a plea deal for her involvement in Dee Dee’s death. In 2016, Vagabond conceded to second-degree murder and was condemned to 10 years in jail. She served 85% of her sentence and was released on December 28, 2023. Nicholas Godejohn, who carried out the murder, was found guilty of first-degree murder in 2018 and sentenced to life in prison.
Gypsy has said she experienced more freedom in prison than she ever did under Dee Dee’s control. But when Dr. Phil asked if she was happy her mother was dead, she replied, “I’m glad I’m out of that situation, but I’m not happy she’s dead.”
It wasn’t until after Dee Dee’s death that Gypsy fully understood the depth of her mother’s lies. While she knew she could walk and eat regular food, she genuinely believed she had leukemia.
Now, Gypsy is healthy and living in Louisiana with her father and stepmother. She’s been the subject of two Lifetime shows, The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up. Gypsy is also looking forward to becoming a mom—she and her boyfriend, Ken Urker, are expecting a baby in January 2025.
Conclusion
The Gypsy Rose Blanchard Case: A Mother’s Betrayal” tells the shocking story of a young girl whose mother deceived everyone by making her appear sick for years. Trapped in a web of lies and abuse, Gypsy Rose took desperate measures to break free, leading to a tragic end. This case reveals the dark side of a mother’s control and the devastating impact of manipulation.
FAQS
What is Munchausen by proxy, and how did it play a role in Gypsy Rose’s life?
Munchausen by proxy is a form of abuse where a caregiver fabricates or induces illness in someone under their care. Dee Dee Blanchard used this to manipulate Gypsy Rose into believing she was gravely ill, subjecting her to unnecessary medical treatments and surgeries for years.
How did Gypsy Rose meet Nicholas Godejohn?
Gypsy met Nicholas online through a Christian dating site. Their relationship quickly escalated, leading to their plan to murder Dee Dee Blanchard and escape together.
What was Gypsy Rose’s sentence?
Gypsy Rose was sentenced to ten years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. Her sentence reflects the court’s acknowledgment of the years of abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother.
Is Gypsy Rose still in prison?
Yes, Gypsy Rose is currently serving her ten-year sentence. However, she has expressed that she feels more liberated now than during her time with her mother.
