Gypsy Rose Blanchard's life was severely impacted by her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, who fabricated her daughter's illnesses to gain sympathy and financial benefits. Gypsy was forced to pretend to be sick, wheelchair-bound, and mentally disabled from a young age. Despite multiple doctors' examinations showing no evidence of illness, Dee Dee continued to convince medical professionals and the public of Gypsy's false conditions.
As Gypsy grew older, she began to rebel against her mother's abuse and eventually met a man online, Nicholas Godejohn, who would later help her escape. However, their plan involved murdering Dee Dee, which they carried out in 2015. Gypsy was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, but her case drew sympathy due to the extreme abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother.
Gypsy was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but her story sparked widespread attention and public debate. She was released from prison in December 2023 and has since gained a large following on Instagram. Many people have expressed support for Gypsy, acknowledging that her actions were a desperate attempt to escape her mother's abuse.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. Gypsy Rose was born in 1991 to parents Rod Blanchard and Dee Dee Blanchard.
2. Her mother claimed Gypsy was born with health problems and raised her as if she were severely ill.
3. Gypsy was forced to use a wheelchair and undergo unnecessary medical treatments.
4. Her mother fabricated her medical files and lied to doctors about Gypsy's condition.
5. Gypsy was not allowed to attend school and was isolated from the outside world.
6. In 2005, a doctor suspected that Gypsy's mother had Munchausen syndrome by proxy.
7. Gypsy discovered her true age in 2010 and began to rebel against her mother's control.
8. In 2012, Gypsy met a man named Nicholas Godejohn online and began a romantic relationship.
9. Gypsy and Godejohn planned and executed the murder of her mother in 2015.
10. Gypsy was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
11. During her trial, it was revealed that Gypsy had been subjected to domestic violence and abuse by her mother.
12. The judge reduced Gypsy's sentence to 10 years in prison due to the mitigating circumstances.
13. Gypsy was released from prison in 2023 and began to rebuild her life.
14. She became an Instagram influencer and shared her story with the world.
15. Gypsy's story was widely covered in the media and sparked a national conversation about Munchausen syndrome by proxy.