Gypsy Rose Blanchard, Guilty of Matricide, Released from Prison
Gypsy Rose Blanchard, known for her involvement in the murder of her abusive mother, is released from prison on parole after capturing national attention
Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who confessed to assisting her boyfriend in the murder of her abusive mother, was released from prison on parole Thursday, according to a Missouri corrections official who spoke to CNN.
In 2016, Blanchard pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after admitting that she persuaded her boyfriend to fatally stab her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, as she slept. As a result of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother, attorneys uncovered evidence leading to a plea deal and Blanchard was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Blanchard fell victim to Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a rare condition in which a caregiver feigns, exaggerates, or induces illness in a child for attention. Dee Dee managed to persuade those around her, including medical professionals, that her daughter was suffering from leukemia, muscular dystrophy, and other illnesses, a topic explored in the HBO Max documentary "Mommy Dead and Dearest."
Dee Dee Blanchard and her daughter, Gypsy Rose Blanchard, were gifted with a Habitat for Humanity home, trips to Disney World, and other benefits after Dee Dee persuaded people that Gypsy Rose had multiple medical issues.
Blanchard confessed to being present in the house during the murder, aware that her boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, intended to stab Dee Dee, and took no action to prevent it, according to court records.
Godejohn was found guilty of murder and was given a life sentence in 2019 with no chance of parole. Legal documents reveal that he acknowledged stabbing Dee Dee and claimed he did so at Gypsy's request.
Blanchard's release conditions were discussed by Missouri Department of Corrections spokesperson Karen Pojmann who stated, "Her original 10-year sentence began in June 2015, so, unless there are parole violations or other exceptional circumstances, she is expected to be under parole supervision and report to a parole officer until June 2025."
CNN has contacted Blanchard's attorney for a comment.
The Blanchard house near Springfield, Missouri, is seen on June 15, 2015.
Nathan Papes/USA Today Network
Following Dee Dee's murder, new information began to surface, painting a picture of a intricate and atypical situation. Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott stated at a June 2015 press briefing, "Appearances can be deceiving."
"Gypsy has experienced something beyond anything I've ever seen," said Michael Stanfield, Blanchard's attorney, in the HBO documentary "Mommy Dead and Mommy Dearest." "Her mother seemed to deliberately keep Gypsy in a childlike state, making her appear much younger than her true age."
In a recent interview with People magazine, 32-year-old Blanchard expressed remorse for her involvement in the killing, saying she regrets it "every single day."
"She was unwell and regrettably, I was not knowledgeable enough to recognize that," she lamented. "She deserved to be in my place, imprisoned for her criminal actions."
The forthcoming book, "Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom," recounts Blanchard's account in her own words, with the assistance of writers Melissa Moore and Michele Matrisciani. It is scheduled for release on January 9, 2024.
The premiere of a six-hour Lifetime special titled "The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard" is scheduled for January 5, 2024. The show will feature interviews with Blanchard from prison. This case was previously depicted in the 2019 Hulu miniseries "The Act," with Patricia Arquette portraying Dee Dee Blanchard.
