Dee Dee Blanchard

Case background and investigation

For Gypsy Rose Blanchard's entire life, her mother Clauddine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard had subjected her to severe medical child abuse known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy (factitious disorder imposed on another). Dee Dee claimed Gypsy suffered from leukemia, muscular dystrophy, epilepsy, and brain damage, among other conditions. Gypsy was confined to a wheelchair, had her head shaved, was fed through a feeding tube, and took numerous medications—none of which she needed.

Dee Dee and Gypsy received free housing from Habitat for Humanity (as Hurricane Katrina victims), free trips from Make-A-Wish Foundation, and considerable charitable donations. Dee Dee controlled every aspect of Gypsy's life, including her age—Gypsy was actually several years older than her mother claimed. Medical professionals who questioned Dee Dee's claims were swiftly cut off.

As Gypsy grew older and gained internet access, she began to understand the extent of her mother's deception. She formed an online relationship with Nicholas Godejohn, a 26-year-old man from Wisconsin. Together they planned Dee Dee's murder. In June 2015, Godejohn traveled to their Springfield, Missouri home and stabbed Dee Dee to death while Gypsy hid in the bathroom; her body was discovered on June 14.

The case captivated the public when it was uncovered, raising complex questions about victimhood and justice. Gypsy, who had been a victim of extreme abuse her entire life, was also a participant in planning her mother's murder. She pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. She was released in December 2023. Godejohn was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. The case was adapted into the Hulu series 'The Act' and multiple documentaries.