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Gypsy Rose Blanchard was raised under the care of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, who made numerous false claims regarding Gypsy’s health, leading to a series of severe medical diagnoses and interventions. Contrary to these claims, Gypsy was not actually ill; instead, her mother had been fabricating her symptoms. This deceptive behavior is believed to be a manifestation of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a mental health condition in which an individual seeks attention and sympathy by inducing or exaggerating illness in another person, often a child. The true nature of Gypsy’s situation came to light following a tragic event in 2015, when Gypsy orchestrated the murder of her mother through an online acquaintance.
Dee Dee began pretending that Gypsy had different illnesses when Gypsy was a baby
Dee Dee began fabricating various illnesses for her daughter, Gypsy, shortly after her birth in 1991. At a young age, Gypsy was falsely diagnosed with sleep apnea. By the time Gypsy was 8, Dee Dee had claimed that her daughter suffered from leukemia and muscular dystrophy, requiring both a wheelchair and a feeding tube. Over time, the list of supposed ailments expanded to include seizures, asthma, and visual and hearing impairments.
As a result of these false claims, Gypsy was subjected to numerous medications and was required to use a breathing machine while sleeping. She underwent multiple surgeries, including procedures on her eyes and the removal of her salivary glands. Due to these interventions—potentially exacerbated by her medications, the absence of her salivary glands, or general neglect—Gypsy’s teeth deteriorated to the point where they had to be extracted. In reality, Gypsy was capable of walking, did not need a feeding tube, and did not have cancer; her baldness was a result of her mother’s decision to shave her head.
Experts believe that Dee Dee suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy (also known as factitious disorder imposed on another), a mental illness characterized by the deliberate fabrication of another person’s illness to gain attention and sympathy.
Dee Dee appeared to be a charming, devoted mother, so people believed her
Dee Dee appeared to be a charming and dedicated mother, which contributed to the widespread belief in her portrayal of her daughter’s condition. Medical tests frequently yielded inconclusive or contradictory results concerning Gypsy’s diagnoses. Dee Dee circumvented scrutiny by discontinuing care with any physician who questioned her daughter’s ailments. Her background in nursing allowed her to accurately describe symptoms, and she sometimes administered medications to simulate specific conditions.
Dee Dee’s demeanor and apparent devotion further reinforced her credibility. Once Gypsy was able to communicate, Dee Dee instructed her to refrain from volunteering information during medical appointments, ensuring that Dee Dee alone provided Gypsy’s medical history.
Dee Dee informed Gypsy’s father, Rod Blanchard, that their daughter suffered from a chromosomal disorder, leading him to commend Dee Dee for her dedicated care. When concerns were raised by some of Dee Dee’s family members regarding Gypsy’s apparent lack of need for a wheelchair, Dee Dee and Gypsy relocated.
In 2005, Dee Dee claimed to have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina, using the disaster as a pretext to move from Louisiana to Missouri. This also served as a convenient excuse for any missing medical records as Dee Dee continued to schedule appointments for Gypsy.
Even when Gypsy was a teenager, Dee Dee still claimed she was sick and began to lie about Gypsy’s age
In 2008, Gypsy and Dee Dee relocated to a new home in Springfield, Missouri, which had been constructed by Habitat for Humanity. The house, painted pink and equipped with a wheelchair ramp, was complemented by various benefits, including charity-sponsored trips to concerts and Disney World. Throughout this period, Dee Dee thrived on the attention she received as a devoted caregiver.
When Gypsy was 14, a neurologist in Missouri suspected that she might be a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. However, this physician did not report the case to authorities, later citing insufficient evidence to take action. In 2009, an anonymous tip alerted authorities to the possibility that Dee Dee’s claims about Gypsy’s health were unfounded. This prompted a visit from two caseworkers, who were ultimately persuaded by Dee Dee that there were no issues.
As Gypsy grew older, Dee Dee increasingly fabricated her daughter’s age, including altering the birth certificate to make Gypsy appear younger. Despite these efforts, Gypsy’s increasing autonomy became more difficult for Dee Dee to manage.
Gypsy was “afraid” and believed she “didn’t have anyone to trust”
Gypsy expressed feelings of fear and a lack of trust, stating, “I couldn’t just jump out of the wheelchair because I was afraid and I didn’t know what my mother would do. I didn’t have anyone to trust.”
Following Dee Dee’s murder, many who had known Gypsy questioned why she did not reveal the truth about her mother’s deceit. Given that Gypsy could walk, she might have chosen to expose Dee Dee’s lies publicly. However, Gypsy had been conditioned to believe that no one would believe her.
Gypsy’s entire life was marked by control and surveillance by her mother. She was barred from attending school, and despite Gypsy’s normal intelligence, Dee Dee claimed her daughter had a mental age of seven. In public, Dee Dee would hold Gypsy’s hand and squeeze it to silence her.
Dr. Marc Feldman, a specialist in Munchausen syndrome by proxy, remarked on Gypsy’s situation: “The control was total in the same sense that the control of a kidnapped victim sometimes is total. Her daughter was, in essence, a hostage, and the crime that occurred can be understood in terms of a hostage attempting to escape.”
Now out of prison, Gypsy is “not happy” that Dee Dee is dead
Recently released from prison, Gypsy Rose Blanchard has expressed that she is “not happy” about the death of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard.
Gypsy’s abuse, well-documented in her medical records, played a crucial role in her legal proceedings. In 2016, she entered a guilty plea to charges of second-degree murder and was subsequently sentenced to 10 years in prison. After serving 85 percent of her sentence, she was released on December 28, 2023. In contrast, Gypsy’s ex-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, was convicted of first-degree murder in 2018 and is serving a life sentence.
Although Gypsy has stated that she experienced greater freedom while incarcerated than during her time with Dee Dee, she has clarified that she is not pleased about her mother’s death. In an interview with Dr. Phil, Gypsy remarked, “I’m glad that I’m out of that situation, but I’m not happy she’s dead.”
It was only following Dee Dee’s death that Gypsy fully comprehended the extent of her mother’s deception. While she had long known she was capable of walking and eating normally, she had been led to believe she had leukemia.
Currently, Gypsy is in good health and resides in Louisiana with her father and stepmother. She is also featured in two Lifetime documentaries, The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up. Gypsy is preparing for a new chapter in her life, as she and her boyfriend, Ken Urker, are expecting their first child in January 2025.