Gypsy Rose Blanchard Will Be Released From Prison

If you haven’t heard of Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s case, you definitely will now. Gypsy Rose Blanchard, was recently released from prison. She had pleaded guilty in 2016 to the second-degree murder of her mother. Although shocking news, there are layers to the story that make people on the internet divided on the case and her release.

Who Is Gypsy Rose Blanchard?

Gypsy Rose Blanchard, a victim of the rare and disturbing psychological phenomenon known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy, entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder in July 2016 for the killing of her mother, Clauddine ‘Dee Dee’ Blanchard. In the complex and tragic case, Gypsy Rose’s mother had been diagnosed with a Factitious disorder imposed on another, commonly referred to as Munchausen syndrome by proxy. This disorder involves a caregiver, in this case, Dee Dee, fabricating, exaggerating, or causing medical issues in the person they are caring for, in this instance, Gypsy Rose.

Following the guilty plea, Gypsy Rose received a 10-year prison sentence, while her ex-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, was convicted of first-degree murder for actually carrying out the slaying and was sentenced to life in prison. Now, having served 85% of her sentence as per Missouri state law, Gypsy Rose was scheduled to be released from prison on December 28.

What Did Her Mother Do to Her?

In the documentary “Mommy Dead and Dearest,” it is revealed that Dee Dee, Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s mother, falsely claimed that Gypsy had leukemia, asthma, and muscular dystrophy. Dee Dee also pretended that Gypsy had the mental capacity of a 7-year-old, attributing it to supposed brain damage from premature birth. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, they moved from Louisiana to Springfield, Missouri, where Dee Dee asserted that medical records supporting Gypsy’s alleged health issues were lost in the storm.

Dee Dee compelled Gypsy to use a wheelchair despite her ability to walk and shaved her head to simulate chemotherapy. She administered medications to induce symptoms of the fabricated conditions. Moreover, Dee Dee allegedly manipulated Gypsy’s birth certificate to make her appear four years younger than her actual age.

For Good or for Bad: How Gypsy Rose Blanchard Became a Viral Sensation

The murder of Dee Dee Blanchard and the troubling dynamic with her daughter, Gypsy Rose, gained global attention. It inspired numerous documentaries, films, and the Hulu miniseries “The Act.” Joey King portrayed Gypsy Rose, while Patricia Arquette played Dee Dee. Despite the media adaptations, Gypsy Rose expressed dissatisfaction with the portrayal of her life in the Hulu series. In interviews conducted from prison, she acknowledged the severity of the crime. However, she asserted that she believes she received an excessive sentence for the murder.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard Will Be Released From Prison

Blanchard was released from Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri on December 28, 2023. This was at approximately 3:30 a.m. local time, as confirmed by the Missouri Department of Corrections to PEOPLE. Gypsy expressed her readiness for freedom in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE prior to her release. The announcement of her release came on September 29, 2023. It stated that she would be released in December after serving 85% of her 10-year sentence. The time spent in Greene County Jail before her trial was counted towards her overall time served.

What do you think of the decision to let Gypsy Rose Blanchard go from prison?

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