Gypsy Rose Blanchard, now 33, opens up about the haunting memories of her mother’s final moments in a newly released documentary.
Speaking candidly in Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up, she reveals how her mother’s last words still echo in her mind, years after the tragic events that unfolded in June 2015.
Gypsy, who was just 23 at the time, made the fateful decision to have her mother, Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard, killed by her internet boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn.
Dee Dee was found murdered in their Springfield, Missouri, home with 14 stab wounds.
The Abuse Gypsy Endured Before the Murder
For years, Gypsy was a victim of severe abuse by her mother, who falsely claimed that Gypsy suffered from various illnesses, including leukemia and muscular dystrophy.
Dee Dee controlled every aspect of Gypsy’s life—shaving her head, confining her to a wheelchair, and even having some of her teeth removed to create the illusion of a sick child.
Gypsy lived under these manipulations for years, believing the lies about her health, until she could no longer endure the abuse.
Gypsy’s Emotional Struggles After Prison Release
In the documentary, Gypsy talks about the ongoing emotional toll of her mother’s death and the guilt she continues to carry.
“I hear screaming, and that’s when I hear her calling my name… ‘Gypsy, help me,'” she shares, revealing how the memory of Dee Dee’s cries for help never fades.
Despite everything, Gypsy says she wanted her life with her mother to end, as she had known nothing but doctors, hospitals, and surgeries.
After Godejohn killed Dee Dee, Gypsy was left to grapple with her complicated feelings toward her mother and the life she had been forced to live.
Gypsy’s Desire for a Normal Life
Now, after serving a ten-year sentence for second-degree murder, Gypsy reflects on the future she dreams of—a simple life away from the scandal that has defined her.
“I don’t want to be remembered as the girl who killed her mother,” she says. “I want to live a life that everyone else takes for granted.”
Gypsy’s emotional release from prison and her journey to reclaim her life are the heart of the documentary.
A Father’s Regret and a Family’s Struggles
Gypsy’s father, Rod Blanchard, also opens up in the documentary about his own regret over not recognizing the signs of abuse sooner.
Although he and Dee Dee separated shortly after Gypsy’s birth, Rod maintains a close relationship with his daughter.
However, he admits that he could have done more to protect her, feeling guilty for not making her feel safe enough to confide in him.
“I wasn’t the best dad,” he admits. “I could have done so much more.”
The Complexities of Gypsy’s Relationships After Prison
The documentary also dives into Gypsy’s relationships post-prison, including her turbulent marriage to Ryan Scott Anderson.
The pair separated in April 2024 after Gypsy had been released, but she is now dating Ken Urker, with whom she shares a young daughter, Aurora.
Their relationship is another chapter in Gypsy’s complicated journey to rebuild her life.
However, adjusting to life outside of prison has not been without its challenges.
Gypsy, who was granted early release in December 2023, still has to serve her full ten-year sentence under parole conditions.
In one particularly difficult moment, Gypsy was told by her parole officer that she could not attend a Kansas City Chiefs game, as originally planned, leading to an emotional reaction where she expressed how trapped she still felt by the system.
A Painful Past and a New Beginning
Throughout the documentary, Gypsy reflects on her traumatic past and how her experiences shaped her into the person she is today.
She has acknowledged the emotional toll that her mother’s actions have had on her, but she also understands that her painful journey has led her to where she is now.
“I just want to be a good mother to my child,” Gypsy shares, explaining how she aims to give her daughter the loving and supportive upbringing she never had.
Gypsy’s story continues to resonate with viewers, as her life is explored in greater depth in Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up, which is currently airing on Channel 4.