It was the case that shocked the world. In July 2016, Gypsy Rose Blanchard was sentenced to ten years in prison for her role in her mother’s murder, while her then-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn received a life sentence.
But things weren’t as they seemed. It is widely believed that Gypsy was a victim of Munchausen Syndrome by proxy, a behavioural disorder and form of child abuse. It sees a child's caretaker – in Gypsy’s case, her mother Dee Dee Blanchard - fabricating illnesses as a form of attention-seeking or to gain sympathy from others.
After eight years behind bars, Gypsy has been released from prison and the internet can’t stop talking about her. Search for 'Gypsy Rose Blanchard' is up by 1,300% on Google, and 'how did gypsy rose meet her husband' is a breakout search term under her name.
Gypsy has started her own social media accounts, where she has spoken out for the first time since her release. Her TikTok account has already amassed 8.9 million followers and her Instagram has 7.8 million followers. Her documentary, The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose, is due to be released in the UK on 15 January.
Here's everything we know so far about the Gypsy Rose Blanchard case...
Who is Gypsy Rose Blanchard?
Gypsy Rose Blanchard was born on 27 July 1991 in Raceland, Louisiana, USA. She grew up with her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, who experts believe had a mental disorder called Munchausen syndrome by proxy. This meant Gypsy was subjected to years of unnecessary surgeries and medications, with Dee Dee even inducing illness in her daughter.
After the family’s house was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, Gypsy and Dee Dee relocated to Springfield, Missouri, where they moved into a house built by Habitat for Humanity. The home was kitted out with a wheelchair ramp and a hot tub for Gypsy to use.
How old is Gypsy Rose Blanchard?
Gypsy Rose Blanchard is 32 years old. However, Dee Dee reportedly claimed that Gypsy’s birth certificate had been lost when Hurricane Katrina destroyed their house, and duped everyone into believing that her daughter was younger than her real age.
In a document recovered from Gypsy’s house, it appeared that Dee Dee forged a fake birth certificate for Gypsy, changing her birth year from 1991 to 1995.
What is Gypsy Rose Blanchard's net worth?
According to Marca.com, Gypsy's net worth reportedly stands at $3 million, or £2,355,246. This predominantly stems from Gypsy's involvement in documentaries and dramatisations that tell her life story.
What surgeries did Gypsy Rose Blanchard have?
Gypsy testified that Dee Dee convinced doctors, and those around her, she had leukaemia and muscular dystrophy, forcing her to use a wheelchair and an oxygen tank when she didn't need it.
She also underwent multiple surgeries during her doctor’s visits, including gastrointestinal operations, eye procedures, and the removal of her salivary glands. In a recent interview with People ahead of her release from prison, Gypsy explained the removal of her salivary glands was the worst surgery because she 'didn't respond very well to the anaesthesia,' which made her recovery 'really, really hard.'
How did Gypsy Rose meet her husband, Ryan Anderson?
Ryan Anderson, a middle school teacher from Louisiana, wrote to Gypsy Rose while she was in prison during the pandemic. Ryan, 37, said he was inspired to reach out to Gypsy after his colleague wrote a letter to Joe Exotic following the Netflix series Tiger King.
By May 2020, Gypsy and Ryan were corresponding regularly but they didn’t meet for a whole year due to covid restrictions. In July 2022, they got married in a small ceremony in prison. In an interview with People, Gypsy said ‘We met in 2020 when the pandemic was really, really strong, and I had a lot of emotional ups and downs because of COVID,’ continuing ‘Unfortunately, it put the prison in a position to where it restricted our freedom even more. So Ryan has seen me through some really good times, some really hard times.’
Who is Nicholas Godejohn?
Nicholas Godejohn, 34, is originally from Wisconsin. He met Gypsy when he was 26 on a Christian dating site in 2012, and they started a secret relationship online. The pair met for the first time in 2015 at a screening of Cinderella, but Dee Dee reportedly didn't approve of the relationship. Nicholas reportedly struggled with mental health and his father, Bobby Godejohn, said he was diagnosed with autism in elementary school.
What did Gypsy Rose Blanchard do?
After suffering years of abuse, Gypsy and Nicholas plotted to murder Dee Dee. Nicholas stabbed Dee Dee to death on 9 June 2015 while Gypsy hid in the bathroom. On 14 June, Gypsy shared a post on Dee Dee's Facebook page admitting that her mum was dead.
Nicholas was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus an additional 25 years for armed criminal action. Gypsy was sentenced to ten years in prison, and she was released after eight years on 28 December 2023.
What has Gypsy Rose Blanchard said since her release?
Since leaving prison, Gypsy has shared several posts on social media. In a video posted on 31 December, she said 'Hey everyone, this is Gypsy...I'm finally free!' She continued 'I just wanted to send a quick video to thank everyone for the massive amount of support that I've been getting on social media, everyone has been really, really nice and supportive and I really appreciate that.'
She has also spoken about her upcoming projects - a Lifetime docuseries, The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her upcoming book, Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom, which she said she's 'super proud of.'
Does Gypsy Rose Blanchard have a child?
Search for 'does Gypsy Rose have a child' is up by 250% on Google. However, Gypsy does not currently have any children.
Who was Gypsy Rose Blanchard's neighbour?
While she was living in Missouri, Gypsy developed a close relationship with one of her neighbours, Aleah Woodmansee. Gypsy secretly corresponded with Aleah through a Facebook account under an alias name, Emma Rose, because Dee Dee didn't allow her to have access to her own social media accounts.
In a 2018 interview, Aleah opened up about how Gypsy wanted to be like other teenagers. 'She would show interest in like different boys and try to ask me advice on like, you know, "How do you approach them? How do you kiss a boy?"' she said.
Is The Act on Netflix?
Gypsy's story was dramatised in an eight-part program in 2019, which aired on Hulu. The cast includes Joey King as Gypsy, Patricia Arquette as Dee Dee and Calum Worthy as Nicholas.
The Act isn't on Netflix, but the program is still available to watch for those with a Hulu account.
How can I watch The Prison Confessions Of Gypsy Rose Blanchard?
The Prison Confessions Of Gypsy Rose Blanchard is currently streaming on Lifetime in the US, and it is not available to watch in the UK.
The three-part docuseries will be available to watch in the UK from Monday 15 January on Amazon Prime.