In a development that has reignited public interest, Gypsy-Rose Blanchard, at the center of a notorious Munchausen by Proxy murder case, was granted early release from prison in December 2023. After serving eight years of her 10 year sentence for the murder of her mother, she has emerged into the world that has closely followed her case since its shocking revelation.
Blanchard, who suffered years of abuse at the hands of her mother Dee Dee Blanchard, was convicted for her role in the 2015 murder of Dee Dee. The case drew national attention as details of the irregular mother-daughter relationship and the underlying mental health issues were unveiled. Widespread media attention about the case became huge due to the fact that Dee Dee had been keeping her daughter Gypsy in a state of fabricated illness for years.
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard was convicted of second-degree murder partially thanks to evidence uncovered by forensic detectives, who found a conspiracy between her and Nicholas Godejohn, a friend who stabbed Dee Dee more than a dozen times.
“The digital forensic analysts uncovered hundreds of text messages sent between Gypsy-Rose and Nicholas Godejohn,” Nonnewaug forensics teacher Kathleen Yocis said. “Originally they were love messages, but then [they] discussed duct tape and knives, which led police to the plot against Dee Dee Blanchard. These digital specialists are able to recover emails and texts even if deleted.”
The decision to release Blanchard on parole after eight years of her 10-year sentence was based on factors such as her behavior during incarceration, participation in rehabilitation programs, and an evaluation of her readiness to set foot into society. Blanchard, who ran away with ex-boyfriend Godejohn prior to their arrest, now lives with her husband Ryan Anderson and said she has plans to begin her new life.
Godejohn was convicted of first-degree murder. He is still held in Potosi Correctional Center where he’s serving a life sentence for conspiring and inflicting the 17 stab wounds found on Dee Dee’s body. Godejohn was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, which is a form of autism spectrum disorder characterized by difficulties in social interactions and nonverbal communication, alongside repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.
“It’s a very high functioning form of autism,” said Steve Bunovsky, one of Nonnewaug’s psychology teachers. “Typically people with the disorder are very smart in many areas, but present symptoms of major social anxiety.”
In Dee Dee Blanchard’s case, she presented her daughter, Gypsy-Rose, as severely ill and disabled, even though Gypsy was actually a healthy individual. Dee Dee misled healthcare professionals, friends, and even her own family into believing that Gypsy had many medical conditions, ranging from leukemia and muscular dystrophy to mental disabilities. As a result, Gypsy underwent unnecessary medical treatments, surgeries, and took medications she did not need.
“She was a victim of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy,” said Bunovsky. “It’s characterized by attention-seeking behavior. I would loosely describe it as a personality disorder.”
While Blanchard’s release from prison has brought relief to some, there is widespread outrage over the excessive attention and praise she’s receiving despite committing a heinous crime. Beside facing a considerable amount of criticism, she remains confident. Gypsy and Ryan, who tied the knot in 2022 while Blanchard was still in prison, have been noticeably close since her release.
