Who Is Gypsy Rose?
Gypsy Rose was made famous when she and her boyfriend killed her mother — attempting to get away from several consecutive years of severe medical abuse.
Source: Investigation Discovery
Dee Dee Blanchard suffered from Munchausen by Proxy, a disease in which parents will attempt to put their children through unnecessary treatment — possibly for sympathy or some other sort of gain.
The Secret Life of Gypsy Rose
Gypsy opened up in an interview with People, noting that she still has trouble forgiving herself for what her boyfriend and her ended up doing that fateful night.
Source: ABC/YouTube
Per People, Gypsy said that she “is still ‘really, really trying to come to a place of forgiveness for her, for myself, and the situation.’”
What Did the Court Have to Say?
When Gypsy’s case was prosecuted, the murder had been “fresh” news at the time. Court notes revealed that Gypsy had been convinced that she lived with many different sicknesses that she didn’t have — and so had her doctors and family.
Source: TheDoctors/YouTube
Munchausen by Proxy was specifically named in court documents, insinuating that Dee Dee had put Gypsy through unnecessary pain and trauma.
Attempting to Make it Fit: Where Does Gypsy Stand Today?
Investigative reporters from People share that Gypsy had more to say on the matter. “It’s a journey, but I’m starting to feel more forgiveness in understanding that it is something that maybe was out of her control,” Gypsy told the outlet.
Source: ProfessorRoss/YouTube
The medical community generally agrees that Munchausen is not something that many who live with it are cognitively aware of.
Impulsive Behavior and an Addiction to Pain
Gypsy continued her interview with People, stating that “maybe it was like an addict with an impulse, and that it was not consciously malicious.”
Source: Dr. Phil/YouTube
While the internet has been sickened with what we saw in the Hulu series, The Act, which offered a very intentional portrayal, Gypsy continues to hope for the best. She states that doing so “helps [her] with coping and accepting what happened.”
The Mental Health Piece
After this portion of the interview with People, Gypsy changed pace — speaking about her mother’s untreated mental health conditions.
Source: Canva
“She was diagnosed with bipolar and schizophrenia when she was a little younger, and so she was not taking medication for that.” She then suggested that therapy might have helped her mother to foster a healthier relationship.
Does Medication Matter?
Gypsy continued, addressing the role that medication could play in managing mental illness. “Maybe [if] she was on her meds, maybe things would have been different. But I can’t focus on the could have, should have, would have.”
Source: Canva
“…that’s why it’s so important for me now, to take [in] what has happened…murder was never the right choice.”
Does Gypsy Regret Murdering Dee Dee?
People reveals that Gypsy confirmed that her mother “didn’t deserve” her fate in the interview, despite the treatment that Gypsy had to endure.
Source: Dr. Phil/YouTube
“Unfortunately I wasn’t educated enough to see that,” Gypsy said. “She deserved to be where I am…doing time for criminal behavior. She was a sick woman.”
What Did Gypsy Do After Dee Dee’s Murder?
Gypsy and her then-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, were ultimately caught after neighbors called in suspicious absences from Dee Dee’s property.
Source: E!News/YouTube
During the trial, Gypsy pleaded guilty — and would go on to serve nearly a decade in prison for her crimes. Her ex-boyfriend was sentenced to life without parole in 2019, and was charged with first-degree murder.
Where Is Gypsy Now?
Gypsy has risen to overnight fame on social media, sharing her life, her story, and her trauma. She advocates for those who are dealing with similar situations, and works to inspire young people to make the right choices.
Source: EndlessStories/YouTube/Canva
She is very active on Instagram, often posting stories and posts about her engagements.
Where Can I Learn More About Gypsy Rose?
People notes that you can continue learning about Gypsy and Dee Dee’s story on The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard. This mini-series is a six-hour special that offers inside information about the case.
Source: YouTube
Viewers also get an intimate view of mental illness, and learn more about it from Gypsy herself. You can view it on a recurring basis on Lifetime at the time of this publication.