The shocking murder of Claudine “Dee Dee” Blanchard in June 2015 sent ripples through communities and online forums alike, largely due to the complex circumstances surrounding her death. Found deceased in her Missouri home, Dee Dee was the victim of a brutal stabbing. However, it was the Facebook post discovered by friends, declaring “That Bitch is dead!” from her 24-year-old daughter, Gypsy Rose Blanchard, that truly ignited public attention and raised the critical question: How Old Was Gypsy When She Killed Her Mom, and what led to such a devastating act?
Upon discovering the alarming Facebook post, authorities swiftly traced the IP address to Big Bend, Wisconsin, locating Gypsy Rose and her boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn. Both were apprehended in connection to Dee Dee’s murder. At the time of her mother’s death, Gypsy Rose Blanchard was 23 years old (she turned 24 shortly after). In 2016, facing the gravity of the situation, Gypsy Rose pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Godejohn was later convicted of first-degree murder for carrying out the stabbing while Gypsy hid. Their motive was deeply rooted in a lifetime of physical and emotional abuse inflicted by Dee Dee upon Gypsy, abuse stemming from Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.
From infancy into her early twenties, Gypsy Rose was subjected to Dee Dee’s fabricated illnesses. Dee Dee relentlessly presented Gypsy to over a hundred different medical professionals, falsely claiming a litany of conditions including Down syndrome, muscular dystrophy, epilepsy, and leukemia. Kristy Blanchard, Gypsy’s stepmother, revealed that Dee Dee had even resorted to stealing prescription pads from her workplace as a nurse’s aide to obtain drugs. These drugs were used to induce symptoms in Gypsy, deceiving doctors and perpetuating the illusion of severe illness. This deception led to Gypsy enduring years of unnecessary medical interventions, including eye surgery, the removal of her salivary glands, and the insertion of a feeding tube. Dee Dee further manipulated Gypsy’s appearance by shaving her head to mimic chemotherapy and forcing her to use a wheelchair, solidifying the image of a chronically ill child in the eyes of the public.
Unaware of the sinister reality, communities, media outlets, and charities rallied around Dee Dee and Gypsy. Dee Dee was lauded as a saintly, selfless mother, and the pair received overwhelming support, ranging from a donated house to an all-expenses-paid Disney World vacation.
The extraordinary and tragic case of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Dee Dee Blanchard has been extensively documented in various media formats. Notable works include HBO’s documentary “Mommy Dead and Dearest,” Hulu’s dramatized series “The Act,” and Lifetime’s docuseries “The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard,” each offering different perspectives on this harrowing story.
After serving a reduced sentence of 10 years, Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released from prison on December 28, 2023. Having married while incarcerated, she later filed for divorce in April 2024. In a 2023 interview, Gypsy expressed deep regret for her role in her mother’s murder, stating, “She didn’t deserve that.” Despite the remorse, the question of how old Gypsy was when she killed her mother remains a central point in understanding the case. At 23, after years of unimaginable abuse, Gypsy Rose’s actions, while tragic and criminal, were born out of desperation to escape a lifetime of manipulation and control.
The case continues to spark discussions about Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, child abuse, and the complexities of victimhood and culpability. The story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of deception and abuse, leaving a lasting impact on public consciousness.
