Gypsy Rose Blanchard was born in 1991 in Golden Meadow, Louisiana, and grew up with her mother Clauddine (Dee Dee) Blanchard as her parents were separated. Gypsy and her mother grew a very close controlling relationship, ingraining the mentality of “It’s us against the world” into Gypsy’s mind. Gypsy’s mother made every decision in her life, what she wore, where she could go, and even what she could say. She was only a small baby when DeeDee’s overprotective controlling behavior started, so she believed that it was completely normal, and her mother simply wanted what was best for her, after all, she was just a child.
This is why when DeeDee started shaving her head, and telling people that she was terminally ill with leukemia, muscular dystrophy, and much more, she figured it was true. Gypsy believed her mother had good intentions, and so did the rest of the world. It was clear to everyone that DeeDee and Gypsy Rose Blanchard simply had incredibly poor luck, with DeeDee having to stay home looking after her ill-daughter full-time, and Gypsy Rose having to endure so many health issues. Many organizations (such as the Make-a-Wish Foundation) startingstarted to give them support in the form of fundraising money, free trips to Walt Disney World, and free concert tickets. Her mother made sure that she fit the criteria of what such an ill, pure little girl would look and act like, by giving her big-framed glasses, an oxygen tank, and a feeding tube, all things which she, in reality, did not need. She was also pale and thin, with her teeth decaying severely because of how many unnecessary medicines she was forced to take. She was dressed in childish clothing such as princess dresses and wigs, but DeeDee told others that Gypsy wore these clothes by her own choice.
The physical abuse started around the time she entered her teenage years because she started to question why her life was so different from all the other people her age. She questioned her age, why she was not allowed to have any form of social life such as friends or boyfriends and even her medical conditions. However, when DeeDee caught Gypsy trying to stand up out of her wheelchair, DeeDee would strike her with her hand and coat hangers, while chaining Gypsy to her bed. Pediatric neurologist Bernardo Flasterstein started to get suspicious when Gypsy’s blood and MRI results showed no signs of the muscular dystrophy DeeDee had diagnosed her daughter with. Telling her that he didn’t see any reason as to why she couldn’t walk. Gypsy Rose stopped being taken to see him shortly after, but Flasterstein did not report DeeDee to social services as he doubted authorities would even believe him. Nevertheless, in 2009 an anonymous caller informed the police of DeeDee’s usage of multiple birth dates and names she used for herself and her daughter, also suggesting the possibility that Gypsy was healthier than she was said to be. But the case was dropped when DeeDee explained to the authorities that came to check on them that the multiple identities and misinformation were simply a way to make it harder for her “abusive ex-husband” to find them, and they believed her.
Gypsy convinced her mother to let her get a phone and laptop, which she then used to message men online secretly. Sometime around 2012 she started talking to a man named Nicholas Godejohn, whom she had met on a Christian singles website. He had a history of mental illness of autism spectrum disorder and dissociative identity disorder, and a past criminal record for indecent exposure, but Gypsy fell madly in love, planning to marry him and even coming up with their future baby names together. Things started to take a darker turn however in 2015 when they started coming up with a plan together for how to murder DeeDee Blanchard. In June of 2015, Godejohn was let into Gypsy’s home during the night, where she gave him duct tape, gloves, and a knife, which she understood were going to be used to murder DeeDee. Gypsy hid in the bathroom covering her ears to avoid hearing the screams of her mother while her boyfriend stabbed her mother 17 times to death. They were found by the police at Godejohn’s house and were taken into custody. Gypsy was convicted of second-degree murder and was given 10 years of prison, while Godejohn was charged with first-degree murder and is serving a life sentence with no parole.
Gypsy was allegedly “thriving” in prison for 8 years according to interviews she has done, stating that even though she was behind bars, she felt a stronger sense of independence there than she ever did before. During prison, Gypsy also strengthened her relationship with her father and even got married in June of 2022 to Ryan Scott Anderson, a teacher from Louisiana aged 37. Gypsy has been active on social media regarding their relationship and has openly stated how in love they are with each other. They first got to know each other in 2020 and although it’s not exactly clear how they met, they were likely pen pals. They met approximately a year after they started talking, and have mentioned now that they are thinking of starting a family.
Over the years many different TV shows and movies have been produced both in dramaticized and documentary-style forms telling Gypsy’s story. However now she has released a new e-book “Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom” that she has co-written with Melissa Moor, an Emmy-nominated executive producer. The book speaks on her challenges building an identity behind bars, while overcoming the past trauma of her childhood.
Sources
The Story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Her Mother, www.biography.com/crime/gypsy-rose-blanchard-mother-dee-dee-murder. Accessed 18 Jan. 2024.
Mamamia-Team. “Munchausen by Proxy, Child Abuse and Premeditated Murder. This Is Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s Story.” Mamamia, Mamamia, 28 Dec. 2023, www.mamamia.com.au/gypsy-rose-blanchard-now/.
“Murder of Dee Dee Blanchard.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Feb. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Dee_Dee_Blanchard#:~:text=Rod%20Blanchard%2C%20Gypsy%2DRose’s%20father,walking%20under%20her%20own%20power.
Gibson, Kelsie. “A Timeline of Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s Murder Case and Release from Prison.” Peoplemag, PEOPLE, 2 Jan. 2024, people.com/gypsy-rose-blanchard-murder-case-timeline-8421449.
TodayShow. “Gypsy Rose Blanchard Shares Her Plans for the Future after Prison Release.” TODAY.Com, www.today.com/news/gypsy-rose-blanchard-now-rcna118124. Accessed Feb. 2024.
Aizin, Rebecca. “Who Is Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s Husband? All about Ryan Scott Anderson.” Peoplemag, PEOPLE, 3 Jan. 2024, people.com/who-is-ryan-scott-anderson-gypsy-rose-blanchard-husband-8420408.
Haasch, Palmer. “Every Show and Movie That’s Told Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s Story – and What She’s Said about Them.” Business Insider, Business Insider, www.businessinsider.com/gypsy-rose-blanchard-movie-tv-shows-documentaries-the-act-2024-1#1-the-prison-confessions-of-gypsy-rose-blanchard-lifetime-1. Accessed 29 Feb. 2024.