By Kana McNiff
With the recent release of Gypsy Rose Blanchard from prison, her case has begun to resurface. In 2015, Gypsy and her boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn killed Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard, Gypsy’s mother. Many different public opinions have circulated since the event. Some believe that Gypsy is a murderer,and others believe that Gypsy did what she had to do to escape her mother. This article will dive deeper into why Gypsy did what she did.
From an early age, Gypsy Rose Blanchard seemed to have many health complications. By the time she was only three months old, she was diagnosed with sleep apnea. As she got older the list of her diseases only grew. We now know that Gypsy was a victim of Munchausen by proxy at the hands of her mother. Munchausen by proxy is when a parent or caregiver exaggerates, fakes, or induces illnesses in their child for attention. Gypsy and her mother were well known in their community. To the public, Gypsy was a sick girl and Dee Dee was a loving mother. In reality, what was happening behind closed doors was much darker.
Dee Dee was a master manipulator and was able to convince medical professionals that there was something actually wrong with her daughter. She manipulated doctors into diagnosing Gypsy with leukemia, muscular dystrophy, epilepsy, hearing problems, and poor vision. Dee Dee would shave Gypsy’s head to make her appear like she had cancer and made her use a wheelchair. Gypsy underwent several surgeries for her “illnesses”. Her salivary glands were removed because Dee Dee claimed that Gypsy’s epilepsy caused her to drool excessively. Gypsy had a feeding tube surgically implanted in her stomach because Dee Dee claimed that she had a phobia of eating and a feeding tube was the only way for Gypsy to get nutrients. In reality, the feeding tube gave Dee Dee access to give Gypsy whatever medication she wanted to give her without her consent.
In addition to this physical abuse, Dee Dee was emotionally abusive towards Gypsy. Gypsy was fully aware that she could walk without a wheelchair. However, in public Dee Dee would force Gypsy to act as though she couldn’t walk. If Gypsy did not do as she was told, her mother would withdraw her affection and be cruel to Gypsy at home. Gypsy kept up the facade and obeyed her mother because she wanted her love.
Gypsy’s many ailments granted her and Dee Dee local fame and many people took to donating money to them and funding trips for Gypsy to go to Disneyland. Dee Dee also signed Gypsy up for the Make-a-Wish foundation, a foundation that focuses on granting children with terminal illnesses wishes in the form of trips, gifts, and other experiences.
Eventually, Gypsy grew older and started to wonder what existed beyond the walls of her home. She secretly created an online dating profile on a Christian dating site. She matched with a man, Nicholas “Nick” Godejohn. The two became closer and closer over the course of a few months and they eventually started an online relationship. Gypsy dreamt of running away from home to start a life with Godejohn. Gypsy quickly realized that the only way she could escape her situation was if her mother was out of the picture. They plotted how to kill her mother. Once Dee Dee had gone to bed, the plan was in motion. Gypsy hid in the bathroom, while Godejohn murdered her mother. The two fled via public transportation and stayed at a hotel. When Dee Dee’s body was found by concerned neighbors, the police immediately arrested Gypsy and Godejohn. Gypsy was sentenced to 10 years in prison with the possibility of parole and Godejohn was sentenced to life in prison.
In January of 2024, Gypsy was released from prison on parole. She served eight years. Gypsy is currently married to Ryan Anderson and her last name has been changed to “Blanchard-Anderson”.
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