Gypsy Rose Blanchard, whose life inspired the Emmy-winning Hulu series The Act, has been released from prison approximately two years ahead of schedule.
Karen Pojmann, a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Corrections, confirmed to EW that Gypsy was discharged from Chillicothe Correctional Center at 3:30 AM on Thursday.
In the year 2016, Gypsy was sentenced to ten years in prison that’s after pleading guilty to second-degree murder for her engagement in the 2015 death of her mother, Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard.
Her then-boyfriend, Nick Godejohn, faced first-degree murder charges and received a life sentence without parole for stabbing Dee Dee 17 times while Gypsy hid in the bathroom.
Who is Gypsy Rose Blanchard?
Gypsy Rose Blanchard, a woman from Missouri, managed to get her online boyfriend to kill her mother after enduring years of abuse.
At the age of 23, Gypsy made the drastic decision to have her mother, Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard, killed. Dee Dee had essentially kept her daughter captive, making her use a wheelchair and feeding tube, even though Gypsy was perfectly healthy and not developmentally delayed, as her friends had thought.
It later came to light that Dee Dee suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a psychological disorder where caregivers seek sympathy by exaggerating or making up illnesses in their children, according to Gypsy’s trial attorney, Michael Stanfield.
Gypsy Rose endured years of unnecessary medical treatment and abuse, which she revealed during the trial as the reason she suggested to her then-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, that he should kill Dee Dee.
Gypsy Rose Before and After: How Did Joey King Portrayed Her Character?
Joey King, the actress behind the character based on Gypsy in “The Act,” underwent a significant transformation to embody the seemingly unwell woman.
In an interview with Teen Vogue, King acknowledged the disturbing nature of the story, emphasizing her commitment to portraying Gypsy with sensitivity.
She documented her metamorphosis into the character on Instagram, sharing a photo of her hair being shaved off for the role in October, expressing her honor in portraying such a challenging narrative.
Critics praised King’s dedication to the role, with Vulture describing her portrayal as convincing, disciplined, and exceptional, noting her almost unrecognizable physical transformation from previous roles like in Netflix’s “The Kissing Booth.”
While King may have captured Gypsy’s appearance before her mother’s murder, Gypsy’s post-imprisonment look was notably different. Her mug shot revealed regrowing hair after her arrest, and by 2016 court appearances, she had long brunette locks.
Interviews in 2017 showcased a vibrant and transformed Gypsy, far removed from the sickly appearance she had during the alleged abuse by her mother.
Despite remaining petite, she appeared healthy and confident, exchanging oversized glasses for a more conventional pair. Gypsy gained weight in prison, according to Buzzfeed News, and although her voice remained high-pitched, her overall image reflected a significant departure from her past.
The Murder of Dee Dee Blanchard
In 2012, Gypsy met Nicholas Godejohn on a Christian dating website, sparking an online relationship that initially involved plans to elope. However, these plans took a dark turn, with Gypsy eventually requesting Godejohn’s assistance in killing her abusive mother.
The turning point occurred in June 2015 when Nicholas entered the Blanchard home while Dee Dee was asleep. Gypsy, hiding in a bathroom, covered her ears as her lover stabbed her mother 17 times in the back.
Following the gruesome act, Gypsy and Nicholas fled to his home in Wisconsin, leaving behind a facade of Gypsy being abducted, which many initially believed.
However, a neighbor and confidant of Gypsy informed the police about Nicholas, leading them to the couple’s location. Subsequently, both Gypsy and Nicholas were arrested on charges of first-degree murder.
Gypsy Rose’s Life on and After Trial
Dee Dee’s treatment of Gypsy soon became public knowledge, and she said she did it because she believed no one would believe she was literally just trying to get out of the situation.
At her trial, she struck a plea deal for second-degree murder after her defense obtained her true medical records. In July 2016, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Meanwhile, Godejohn was found guilty of first-degree murder and armed criminal action. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison on the second charge, with a concurrent sentence of life in prison.
Gypsy said she now knows the extent of her mother’s abuse and felt freer in prison than if she had been at her mother’s mercy. Although she regrets her crime, she said she believes she could have gotten a shorter sentence and more assistance given the reasons for it.
Gypsy experiences no long-term side effects from the medications she takes. She has earned her GED and has expressed her plans to write a book that tells her own story in her own words.
She also strengthened her relationship with her father, with whom Dee Dee was estranged for most of her childhood, and she married Ryan Scott Anderson on June 27, 2022.
Since then, the case has attracted the attention of countless other media outlets, including the HBO documentary “Mommy, Dead and Dearest,” the Hulu miniseries “The Act,” and an upcoming Lifetime documentary.
On September 29, 2023, Gypsy was released on parole. The 32-year-old woman is currently scheduled to be released on December 28th.
