After seven years of incarceration, Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released from prison on December 28th, 2023. She had been convicted of second degree murder after imploring her then-boyfriend to kill her mother, freeing her of her mother’s abuse. Her release has drawn an incredible amount of media attention as Gypsy steps back into the public eye.
Growing up, Gypsy’s mother, Dee Dee, had imposed several ailments on her daughter due to Munchausen by proxy, a disorder where a caretaker fabricates fake symptoms for their child. Dee Dee convinced everyone, including her child, that Gypsy was suffering from epilepsy, leukemia, and muscular dystrophy. Her physical appearance and “lost medical records” fooled doctors, friends, and the public. Gypsy was forced to sleep with a breathing machine, use a feeding tube, and could only move around in a wheelchair. Her teeth had rotted due to neglect and her head was shaved to resemble a cancer patient.
Her feigned illnesses took advantage of the kindness of others. Friends and concerned members of the public held fundraisers, which increased the Blanchards’ publicity and paid their bills. Whenever a doctor would question Gypsy’s medical history, Dee Dee would switch her to a different practice. They moved away from family when some began to notice that Gypsy could walk without a wheelchair. Gypsy Rose had been facing abuse for her entire life until the age of 23, when she took matters into her own hands.
She met her then-boyfriend Nick Godejohn online, and they began secretly chatting for months before eventually planning Dee Dee’s murder. Nick supported Gypsy’s homicidal plan, as Gypsy saw it as her only way to be with him. It was recently disclosed that this was not Gypsy’s first attempt to kill her mom, having shot at Dee Dee several months beforehand. Gypsy’s shots were not fatal and her mom framed it as a robbery shooting. Gypsy worried that if she tried to expose her mother, no one would believe her.
In June of 2015, Nick came to her house and stabbed Dee Dee while Gypsy waited in another room. Afterwards, Gypsy posted to her mom’s Facebook account, “That B—- is dead!” This led police to check the house, finding Dee Dee’s body. Gypsy has stated she felt “more free in prison than living with my mom,” having spent her whole life as a hostage.
The reaction from the media following Gypsy’s release from prison has been nothing short of explosive. Gypsy has become the latest internet fixation, especially by more Gen Z audiences who rejoice over her freedom. Gypsy’s marriage to her husband, Ryan Anderson, whom she met in prison through letters, has also been making headlines. Ryan had been experiencing hateful comments about his appearance, to which Gypsy commented, “Don’t listen to the haters.. besides they’re jealous… the D is fire.”
She is now starting a new series, The Prison Confessions, where she is devoted to airing the truth about her story and gaining the closure she needs. She has stated the purpose of all her recent media appearances is to raise awareness for Munchausen by proxy syndrome and the abuse she endured.
