Gypsy Rose Blanchard opens up about her mother’s murder in her memoir My Time to Stand. On June 10, 2015, Gypsy allowed her then-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, into their home while Dee Dee was sleeping. Gypsy ducked into the bathroom, plugging her ears, but she heard it all. She remembers her mother’s shocked voice: “Who are you?” Even muffled, Gypsy still heard her mother’s screams and pleas for help. However, she did not say a word, frozen with fear and the daunting task before her. After the murder, Godejohn compelled Gypsy to clean him, and then he sexually assaulted her. They fled the scene, but authorities arrested them shortly afterward. Gypsy was sentenced to ten years behind bars for her part in the crime and was paroled in December 2023. Godejohn is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
A Life of Abuse Under Dee Dee Blanchard
Gypsy was a victim of severe abuse by Dee Dee, her mother, before the murder. Dee Dee forced Gypsy to undergo unnecessary medical procedures, claiming that she had a myriad of illnesses. This abuse, called Munchausen syndrome by proxy, kept Gypsy trapped and under control. Dee Dee’s manipulation also reached the point of convincing others of Gypsy’s false illnesses, creating sympathy and financial aid. Gypsy believed there was no escape from her controlling methodology. Gypsy’s mental and physical health suffered greatly due to the years of lies and abuse.
The Aftermath and Gypsy’s Path Forward
Gypsy has been rebuilding her life since being released from prison. She has spoken about her experiences in interviews and her memoir, hoping to bring attention to child abuse and Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Gypsy has also reconciled with her family and is expecting her first baby with her boyfriend, Ken Urker. She wants to move on and hopes people who know what she did will forgive and accept her. Gypsy’s story is a cautionary tale of the intricacies of abuse and what someone may do to escape it.
